Commissions of inquiry – including the Royal Commission on child abuse, banking, aged care, and disability – have all highlighted that boards and senior management are responsible for what goes on in their organisation. As one inquiry found, the distinction between governance and management "does not justify directors not interesting themselves in operational matters when it is known that governance system are either not in place or are untested."

Australia is a signatory to the UN Convention, and the Convention informs both the NDIS and the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding framework. Understanding of the human rights perspective is fundamental to contemporary service delivery; understanding the Convention will help Boards and Executive Teams anticipate some of the Royal Commission’s likely recommendations about service design.

As evidenced by previous Royal Commissions, it is too late once you have been called to give evidence. Organisations must be proactively implementing measures to demonstrate their commitment, and that of their staff, to provide quality services.

Right on Board Program

How do you ensure that your Board and Executive Team are across human rights, quality and safeguarding issues? In partnership with Purpose at Work, NDS is offering a new program - Right on Board: Governing for Human Rights, Quality and Safeguarding. This includes a desktop review of your key documents, training for your Board and Executive Team tailored to your organisation, and recommendations for enhancing your current approach.

A CEO from an organisation supported recently stated that it was "an excellent mini-workshop" and "we now have a far clearer understanding of Board responsibilities and are keen to implement your very welcome recommendations".

Right on Board is based on a seven-step model to promote human rights, quality and safeguarding by your Board and Executive Team. This model helps to highlight key things to be considered such as:

• how Boards and Executive Teams can actively promote human rights, quality and safeguarding;
• what KPIs/measures you might use about rights, quality and safeguarding;
• how to foster a reporting and learning culture; and
• how to have positive conversations between Boards and Executive Teams about any issues of concern.

NDS has negotiated a member-only discount of 10% for the Right on Board program. Don’t miss your chance to access this discount, contact NDS Learn and Develop at submit enquiry/feedback or 03 8341 4307.