Chair of the Board and Non Executive Director

Would you like to help make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged members of our community?

If you are:
• a skilled individual looking for a challenge
• a strategic thinker with an appreciation for risk
• an experienced business person or have worked at a senior level within a large organisation….
You could be just the person we’re looking for.

Westhaven has been a part of Dubbo and the Orana region since 1957, providing
employment, transport, respite, recreation, training, accommodation, recreation, socialization, transport, counselling, training and employment opportunities for people with disability to live the life they choose.. We are a not-for- profit organisation and a registered charity, with all money generated from our business activities going back into the organisation to provide ongoing support for our people.
We have a dedicated support team of 270 people. Many of our residents and supported employees have been with us for more than 30 years and many no longer have living relatives to care for them. Our role as advocates for our clients is relentless and our range of activities is both challenging and diverse.
But we’re not complacent – our $17 million turnover in 2015-16 is reinvested into the Dubbo community and we see the possibility for that figure to double in the next decade. With the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and a fee for service model, we recognise the need to diversify our income sources and to create partnership arrangements with business and other community sectors.
Our business activities in Dubbo and surrounding communities have grown from strength to strength. Residents live in the 41 homes we own in Dubbo. We operate a cluster of group homes and factory operations where the diverse list of products and services we sell includes:
• ugg boots and woolen products
• garden furniture and surveyor’s pegs
• mowing and nursery work.

What we are looking for

The Board of Westhaven is made up of seven members and currently has a vacancy for a Chair and an additional director. If you are interested in joining our Board, it’s important that you have:
• understanding of the disability sector
• a belief that every person with a disability deserves the opportunities to live the life they choose
• commercial acumen
• the time available to carry out the responsibilities
• the ability to read and interpret financial statements
• an understanding of the principles of good governance
• a commitment to the concept of social justice.

We are looking for people with a diverse skill set that may include the following:
• experience on a Board or in a senior management role in an organisation with an annual budget of more than $10 million
• experience with strategic partnerships or mergers
• experience in government contracts and tender writing
• a strong business and or management background managing growth and expansion
• skills in human resources, public relations, marketing or IT.
Westhaven is about to embark on a major period of growth. We need to have
the capability for flexibility and the ability to enhance our range of services.

We expect to make a major transformation:
– FROM a fully grant funded organisation
– TO a fee-for-service based business.

Our biggest challenge is to be prepared for how we can operate in this future environment and remain a regionally-based provider who cares for people who need support to achieve their potential.

Our future challenges include:
• flexibility to allow for growth in the changing environment we operate in
• taking a responsible approach to risk management
• the introduction of the NDIS and the necessary adjustments required
• partnering with smaller organisations to ensure much-needed services can be sustained in regional areas of NSW
• entering into client contracts for service delivery
• helping people who do not currently come under the scope of our service delivery model.

What you will get in return

Being a Director on the Board of Westhaven involves:
• 10 meetings a year in Dubbo
• attendance at some official functions and meetings intrastate
• occasionally representing the organisation at community events.

We reimburse our Directors for out-of-pocket expenses and attendance at our meetings. But, most importantly, we see our role as making sure people’s aspirations are realised.

The rewards from working with Westhaven cannot be measured in dollar terms. This opening to travel the journey that lies ahead for our organisation represents:
• the opportunity to be part of a fundamental transformation of Westhaven as a business and a service provider for people living with a disability
• a role that makes a significant contribution to your local community
• a rewarding opportunity to help make a difference to the lives of some of the most disadvantaged members of our community
• the chance to drive fundamental change and help forge a prosperous organisation at a time when we need to reinvest in our assets.