December Celebrant Newsletter

ONLINE: MON, 2ND DEC - VIC BDM ONLINE REGISTRY TUTORIAL

Victorian Local Leader Dee Wild shares her tips and tricks for navigating the wonderful and sometimes strange world that is RIO (aka the Victorian BDM Online Portal). Click here to RSVP

ONLINE: TUE, 3RD DEC - NEWBIE ZOOM

Come along to a very informal catch-up hosted by Dee. Meet fellow celebrants, ask ANY question, share your frustrations and excitements. Click here to RSVP

ONLINE: THU, 5TH DEC - OPD DROP-IN GROUP STUDY SESSION

Time is running out to complete OPD for 2024. If you need some extra motivation to get it done, come join our group study session (with TCS expert Alison on hand to help). Click here to RSVP

VIC: SUN, 8TH DEC - MELBOURNE CHRISTMAS DRINKS

Catch-up for casual Christmas drinks at Mirror Mirror Rooftop Lounge. There's a happy hour, but with the most fab Melbourne celes all in one spot, we'll be HAPPY for HOURS! Click here to RSVP

NSW: TUE, 10 DEC - SYDNEY CHRISTMAS PARTY

Ready to celebrate the end of year in style? FLOCK YEAH! Join us at the The Balmain Hotel and don't forget to wear something LOUD!  Click here to RSVP

QLD: SUN, 15 DEC - GOLD COAST XMAS COCKTAILS

Missed out on the Brisbane Christmas party? Well head south to the Aviary Rooftop Bar in Southport for SEQ Does Christmas Round 2. Hosted by Sacha Clark. Click here to RSVP

CHRISTMAS PARTIES GALORE, OUR NOT-SO-SECRET SANTA GIFT EXCHANGE & PLUS A CHRISTMAS PRESSIE FOR YOU!

Christmas is just around the corner and whether you've been naughty or nice this year, you're still invited to all the festive fun!

CHRISTMAS PARTIES
Brisbanites kicked things off late last month with a fabulous Paint & Sip event, but SEQ is getting a second round with Cocktails on the Gold Coast on Sunday 15th December. Further south, there will be Christmas cheer TSC-style in Melbourne on Sunday 8th December and in Sydney on Tuesday 10th December. See 'What's On in December' above for all the details.

DO YOU WANT TO ORGANISE A TCS XMAS PARTY IN YOUR AREA?
Get in touch with Gazza, Georgie, Roxy, Dee or Alison, and we will be more than happy to help you organise it!

OUR ANNUAL (not-so) SECRET SANTA IS BACK 
One of the highlights of the TCS calendar! For members participating in the fun, Roxy has posted the gifter/giftee list in the Facebook group. You now have 2 weeks to send out your present!

DEAR SANTA, I WOULD LIKE A NEW PA FOR CHRISTMAS…

If Santa doesn't deliver, we will! Our PA Packages featuring the cult fave Bose S1 Pro speaker are now available via The Wedding Society Shop! TCS Members receive a whopping $300 discount when they use the discount code "tcspa" (NB: you must be logged into the site to use the code).

DON'T FORGET

OPD FOR 2024 MUST BE COMPLETED IN…

As of November, there were still 45% of celebrants who hadn't completed their compulsory Ongoing Professional Development for 2024. If you are one of them, don't worry, there's still time!

However, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you complete your OPD as soon as possible, so if you have any technical difficulties, there is time to resolve them.

Where can I access my OPD?

       OPD is set by the Attorney-General's Department and can be accessed via the Marriage Celebrants Portal

I can't remember if I've done OPD already (or if I'm required to). How can I check?

Log in to the Marriage Celebrants Portal to find out

I can't get in to the Marriage Celebrant Portal - HELP?!

You'll need to contact the AGD for assistance at [email protected]  
DO NOT wait until after Christmas to contact them as it may be too late.

What will I need to complete OPD?

Besides access to the internet, you will also need to download some resources. There are two topics this year: Real Consent (Including Capacity) – which requires this workbook to answer questions; and Knowledge of the Law, where you'll need to have the Marriage Act handy.

How long does it take?

The ADG has estimated that each topic will take around 1 hour to complete. However, some celebrants have reported that it has taken them less than 30 minutes for both, while others have needed a little extra time. There is no time limit, so take it at your own pace.

What happens if I fail OPD?

You can't fail OPD. We repeat: you CANNOT fail OPD. For each topic you'll be required to answer a series of multiple choice questions. If you get a question wrong, you'll be given 3 more attempts to get it right. If after all your attempts you still have some questions wrong, you'll still receive a 'COMPLETE' for the topic. OPD is training, not a test. Any questions you get incorrect are used by the AGD to identify where there are knowledge gaps among the celebrant community.

What happens if I don't complete OPD by 31st December?

Unless you receive an exemption prior to the deadline, failure to complete OPD in time may result in a caution, additional professional development activities, suspension or even deregistration. DON'T RISK IT!

Having issues? Email us at [email protected] for help.