NSW Good Governance Project

ADHC continues to invest in a range of capacity building initiatives that enhance the ability of service providers to respond to change in a turbulent policy and economic environment. NDS NSW, together with key partners continues to undertake a leadership role in this area. This web page will provide information on Good Governance initiatives.

The outline of current opportunities reflects the position as at December 2011, and includes:

The release of additional chapters to the It's Your Business resource on Fraud and Corruption and Probity in Employment. Additional chapters, Partnerships and Strategic Alliances, Quality Management and Complaints Management will be released in the first half of 2012
An evaluation of the program to date. This will inform options currently being developed for the continuation of the Good Governance program as prioritised under the Industry Development Fund, including:

- A review of the 'Tailored and Targeted' initiative which was highly valued by the organisations who took up the opportunity. The resources and 'Panel of Advisors' will be updated to reflect person-centred principles and the change reform agenda currently faced by the sector.

- Professional Board Development through participation in the 3 day Foundations for Directors Course, facilitated by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

- The development of an online Governance portal.

- A Disability Sector Leadership program

- Facilitating Communities of Practice to enable discussion and networking.

- A Good Governance Conference:

Outline of the Good Governance Program [Word 251KB]
Final Literature Review Oct 11 [PDF 532KB]
Final Evaluation Report Oct 11 [PDF 671KB]

Click to go to:

It's Your Business
Current Opportunities
Evidence
Resources for Boards and Management Committees
Tailored and Targeted Consultancy Support - Panel of Subject Matter Experts
Contact

It's Your Business

Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC): Its Your Business It's Your Business is a resource produced by ADHC for non-government organisations designed to support the development of governance knowledge and board management skills. The Good Governance Program has been established to support the implementation of It's Your Business.

Current Opportunities

Disability Sector Leadership Program

As part of the investment to strengthen the development of the not for profit disability sector National Disability Services NSW is pleased to facilitate training support to build the potential of capable future leaders across the disability sector.

In the pilot phase, the NSW Industry Development Fund is funding 15 places in the program. The program will commence on Thursday 9 February 2012 and the last day will be Thursday 2 August 2012.

For further information and eligibility criteria, view the information pack. [Word 560KB]

Professional Board Member Development Opportunity

NDS is pleased to invite current board members of not-for-profit organisations, funded by ADHC in the disability sector, to attend a customised Australian Institute of Company Directors Foundations of Directorship three (3) day course at no cost to participants. The NSW Industry Development Fund is funding up to 200 places. Three courses were delivered in October and November 2011. The remaining five courses will be rolled out from March to June 2012, please see the Information Pack for location and venue details. Travel assistance is available to eligible participants

For more information and eligibility criteria please download the Course Information Pack (Word 486KB), (PDF 390KB).

For more information on the course content please visit the Australian Institute of Company Directors website.

To apply please complete the online Application Form. For any problems in accessing the application form online please contact Megan Sandford, NDS NSW State Planning Coordinator on 02 9256 3103 or by email megan.sandford@nds.org.au.

Evidence

The Good Governance Program aims to enhance the governance of small to medium sized non government organisations (NGOs) funded by ADHC, focussing on organisations with an annual turnover of less than $5 million.

In March, NDS and partner peak bodies (NCOSS, NSW MOW, ACS NSW) invited their networks to participate in a confidential survey to profile the learning and development needs of Boards and management committees. The results of that survey are now available. This is the most comprehensive picture of the board development requirements of the DADHC funded service system that currently exists. The results have informed the design of the Good Governance Program.

NDS conducted a full program evaluation in July 2011 which will inform further Good Governance initiatives as prioritised under the Industry Development Fund. If you have any ideas or suggestions about good governance in the ADHC funded service system, please don't hesitate to contact us at the details provided at the bottom of this page or via the NDS NSW web site - Contact Us webpage.

Good Governance "It's Your Business" Learning and Development Strategy Research Report (PDF 611KB)
Good Governance "It's Your Business" Learning and Development Strategy Research Report (Word 839KB)

Resources for Boards and Management Committees

Australian:

'Developing Your Board' Resources, including Board Survey Tools. A non-profit board has to give high priority to its own development and maintenance. Boards and Board members must examine their own performance in a meaningful way and learn from their experience and their self-evaluations. In partnership with the Good Governance Program, the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (CPNS) located at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is providing the opportunity to develop an overall assessment of team working. Each member of the Board / management committee completes the online survey, and the Board is then provided with a free assessment and report. Non-profit boards and management committees can use these tools to observe their development over time and benchmark against similar non-profit boards. CPNS is the first and only fully accredited member of the Non-Profit Academic Centres Council in the southern hemisphere.

Queensland University of Technology Are you listening?? If you've got an interest in the philanthropic and nonprofic sector, you should be listening to Informing the Australian Nonprofit Sector, the monthly podcast produced by the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies. From governance and accountability to social responsibility and everything in between, the CPNS Podcast gives you up-to-the-minute information on the issues affecting the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. To download and subscribe, visit http://www.bus.qut.edu.au/research/cpns/podcast/

The Office of Fair Trading is conducting a series of free seminars on the new requirements of the Associations Incorporations Act 2009. Frequently asked questions.

NDS ACT Strengthening the Sector Resources The NDS ACT Governance Better Practice Guide includes reference material and checklists to enable organisations to assess their existing capabilities and provides sample documents for organisations to use as a basis for developing their own tailored governance tools and documents.

Council of Social Services of NSW (NCOSS) Management Support Unit The Management Support Unit (MSU) is part of the NCOSS Sector Development Unit. This unit proactively supports and resources the development of a high quality and effective community sector through a range of industry development projects and initiatives.

Our Community provides advice, tools and training for Australia's 700,000 community groups and schools, and practical linkages between the community sector and the general public, business and government

Pro Bono Australia publish news and information, both online and in print, about the community sector.

Pathways Australia is a specialist provider of management support services to the Not-For-Profit sector and companies wishing to develop their community support programs.

Third Sector is an online magazine for Australia's Not-For-Profit managers and their industry and professional associations, member benefit organisations and charities.

Management Support Online NGO Services provide a range of online services for non-government organisations to assist them with governance, management, administration and general operations.

Community Door is a governance and accountability resources including basic guides and model policies on roles and responsibilities, strategic planning, risk management, conflict of interest, financial accountability and other issues. Managed by QCOSS

Board Matters newsletter published by Governance and Management Pty Ltd. You can subscribe or view articles from back issues.

Governance Matters is a website managed by Queensland University of Technology. It provides information that will be relevant and useful to nonprofit organisations

CPA Australia: Financial Management for Not-For-Profits This guide, prepared by Certified Practicing Accountants Australia, has been developed to discuss the key financial aspects NFPs should focus on to ensure that good financial management is in place

International:

The Non Profit Times is a leading U.S. business publication for Non Profit Management

Boardsource is a US organisation dedicated to advancing the public good by building exceptional non-profit boards and inspiring board service

Third Sector is a leading UK publication for everyone who needs to know what's going on in the voluntary and not-for-profit sector

Global Forum on NGO Governance is a worldwide forum that supports resource-sharing and idea exchange for all who work with, or serve on, the boards of nongovernmental organisations.

Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Guidance Notes is a UK based site that provides an extensive list of guides for all aspects of governance - many specifically related to nonprofit organisations.

Social Economy Governance Portal is a Canadian site that contains materials on nonprofit corporate governance and co-operative governance

One World Trust is an online portal for civil society self-regulation initiatives across 80 countries that contains codes of conduct, certification schemes, working groups, self-assessments and information services

Governance Matters is a US based site that provides nonprofit leaders with the governance resources needed to strengthen their boards

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is a UK based peak body. NCVO's Trustee and Governance Information Centre contains a wealth of information on a range of subjects relating to third sector governance and trusteeship ranging from the role of the trustee to changing your governing document.

Tailored and Targeted Consultancy Support - Panel of Subject Matter Experts

NDS established a panel of subject matter experts to provide tailored and targeted support for boards of ADHC funded organisations with an annual turnover of less than $5m. Registration for Tailored and Targeted Consultancy Support closed on 31 January 2011. Over 150 organisations have opted to work with a subject matter expert of their choice on an important aspect of their governance agenda.

This aspect of the program will be evaluated and further subsidised consultancy may be a feature of the Good Governance Program should additional resources become available.

The expert panel matrix, list of subject matter experts and individual profiles below are provided as a resource for organisations.

Download: Expert Panel Matrix [Excel 182KB]

Quick Links to Panel of Experts Profiles: