DTE - Board Member Induction

 * This is a living document. Please comment.  It is not set in Concrete Over time It becomes representative of our group think as a gift to future boards. The goal is to create documentation to help bring up to speed as incoming board member.

 ***There maybe some broken links, please advise us via chat when you see one

Board members need a better welcome

Hi all, you're getting this email as an ICDA member, or because you've asked us to share the results of your response to our national NFP survey.

The latest ICDA Spotlight Report: Board Inductions – based on a national survey of 1878 senior community leaders – examined the inductions process as part of a bigger study into the governance of not-for-profits.

The latest study found nearly half of Australia’s not-for-profits give their directors a poor induction into their organisation. That's despite induction being crucial to bringing new board members up-to-speed. Findings include:

• 45% of board members report a poor induction overall.
• 72% of leaders in sport and recreation groups weren't happy with their induction.
• The best performing groups still record poor inductions more than 30% of the time.
• Leaders are six times more likely to lack understanding of their role if induction is poor.
• Larger organisations give better inductions than smaller ones, while organisations in the community development, health and human services sectors provide better board inductions than those in other sectors.
• Treasurers were most likely among board members to report a good induction

Past reports have addressed  financial health, fraud and cybercrime, board and CEO performance, the role of the chair, and not-for-profit impact and data.

To have your say, comment at the Not-for-profit Happy Hour Australia Facebook page, tag a tweet with @nfpdirectors or email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Other useful Articles in Resources

• Induction Process Template - Link
• Before you join - Links
• Responsibilities - Link
• Exiting - Link
• Meetings - Link

Some suggestion

• Make sure you have access to the ICDA Board Portal
• Purchase 14 copies of  - Step In, Step Up: Everything a new community board director needs to know - Link

  • Joining a community organisation is good for you and good for the world. And you’ve carried that to the next level – you’ve joined the board, where you can really make a difference.

    Now you’re on, though, there are some things you need to sort out. You need to know what you’ve joined, and how it works, and what it does, andwhat you’re taking on. There’s a surprisingly large pile of stuff you need to know, or at least need to have handy in case of fire.

    You need to be clear on your responsibilities and on top of your duties. You need to be watching out for the things that could go wrong, just in case. The best way to understand the task in front of you is through experience, and if you hang on in there that’ll come – but right now you could use a hand with it all, and it’d help to have a guide handy you can dip in to from time to time when tricky questions come up.

    That’s what this is.

    It’s not brain science or rocket surgery. Serving on the board of a community organisation is mostly common sense, mixed with a liberal sprinkling of common decency and common values. It’s about acting morally, ethically, within the law, and in the best interests of your organisation.

    This book, and the other guides produced by Our Community, are about empowering community group board directors with the knowledge that will make their contribution even more effective. It’s about being prepared – being able to recognise when issues arise, and having the tools to work your way through them.

    We’ve written this book based on one of our earlier publications, Surviving and Thriving as a Safe Effective Board Member: The essential facts you need to know before, during and after joining a community board (2003). That earlier book was written by Waleed Aly, before he became Australia’s favourite public intellectual, and we’re rather sorry we’ve had to rewrite and update it for a new generation. Thanks, Waleed.

    Thanks also to the members of the Community Directors Council – Susan Pascoe, Sheena Boughen, Catherine Brooks, Jahna Cedar, Anne Cross and Sonja Hood – who shared their experiences and insights into the most important issues, challenges, benefits and questions facing today’s not-for-profit board director. Their invaluable experience and guidance has helped to make this book a practical document that will assist everyone who has the pleasure of sitting on the board of one of Australia’s 600,000 community organisations.

    Denis Moriarty

• Follow Up - |Fed Coop -
  • Do the course Malcolm, Shardae and Robin did in mid 2023
  • We are currently discussing with Fed Coop att DTE member training sessions about Co-operatives
  • We are currently discussing with Fed Coop a rules harmonisation project
•  
• Follow Up - Justice Connect Training Course - Link
  • Further to your discussion with Angela please find attached a training proposal for a 3 hour Governing a Community Organisation session for your board.

Some Reference Points

• QUT - Developing Your Board - Link
• The Effective Not-for-Profit Board - A value-driving force - Link 

Aboriginal Heritage - Acknowledging our responsibility

Aboriginal Heritage - Folder