Scholarships open for current or emerging not-for-profit directors
Reflections
“There are many great opportunities to serve in governance in our Diocese, including in our parishes, Commissions, committees, ministries and Diocesan Council. AICD scholarships are currently available for current or aspiring members of some of these groups,” says Joanne Stone, ACSQ Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of the Finance and Diocesan Services Commission
Good governance is critical to an organisation’s success.
The hallmarks of a really successful relationship between governance and management bodies are trust, respect and independence.
A good board is concerned with organisational health, enterprise structure, strategic relevance, stakeholder accountability and direction. They ask the question, “Where are we going?”
Management is concerned with operational detail, departmental processes and individual outcomes. They ask the question, “How are we going to get there?”
One of the most common tensions I have seen in more than 30 years of governance role experience is the blurring of governance and management lines.
While good boards and effective management work together, boards delegate management to management as management implements the strategic direction set by the Board.
Board members ideally possess relevant sector skills and experience along with a sound understanding of the functions of a Board and its members.
Undertaking courses by director membership organisations is a great way to develop this sound understanding.
The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) is currently offering 200 fully-funded scholarships to current and emerging not-for-profit directors to help strengthen and build their governance knowledge and skills.
In conjunction with their facilitating partner, the Australian Scholarships Foundation, the Australian Institute of Company Directors is inviting scholarship applications from leaders of not-for-profit organisations across Australia with an annual income of $2 million or less.
Each scholarship covers 100 per cent of the associated course fees and is valued at up to $1,749.
The programme modules are:
- Duties and Responsibilities of the Not-for-Profit Director
- Strategy and Risk for the Not-for-Profit Director
- Finance for the Not-for-Profit Director.
The programme is suitable for:
- executives accepting their first directorship
- those who are considering accepting a directorship
- executives who report directly to a board
- directors who are seeking to transition into not-for-profit directorship
- directors of not-for-profit companies and community organisations.
There are no educational prerequisites for this programme.
This course runs over 1.5 days. Multiple course dates are available in each state and territory across Australia between August 2023 and June 2024. Applications close on Sunday 23 April.
Applicants must be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.
For full terms and conditions or to apply, visit the Australian Institute of Company Directors website.
The $2 million annual income threshold relates to a given organisation’s ABN, so many parishes would be eligible. If you would like to find out whether your ACSQ commission, parish, ministry or agency is eligible to apply, please email Charlotte Barton.
There are many great opportunities to serve in governance in our Diocese, including in our parishes, Commissions, committees, ministries and Diocesan Council.
AICD scholarships are available for current or aspiring members of some of these groups.
The Finance and Diocesan Services Commission (FDSC) and the Ministry Education Commission (MEC) are calling for expressions of interest from those keen to serve on the respective Commission’s governing structures.
Both Commissions encourage expressions of interest from diverse peoples.
Editor’s note: To find out more about expressing interest for the FDSC, please email Charlotte Barton. To find out more about expressing interest for the MEC, please email The Rev’d Dr Ruth Mathieson.
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