Organisation : Wombat Housing Support Services
Location : Melbourne (North Melbourne)
Time required : Meetings throughout the year
Duration of project : Ongoing
Sector : Community Support Services
Application closing date : 28 Apr, 2023
About the role
Wombat Housing Support Services is currently seeking a motivated and experienced Director to join the board. Wombat is seeking an individual who will act as a general member for the remainder of the current term with an intention to step into Chair position in the coming term (November 2023). This person will have an opportunity to shadow Wombat’s current board Chair to ensure a strategic and effective handover.
Requirements for all Wombat board members:
- A commitment to Wombat’s mission.
- Demonstrated leadership experience – Wombat recognises and values diverse forms of leadership, both formal and informal.
- Collaboration and relationship building.
- Demonstrated capacity to exercise authority constructively and delegate authority as required.
- Experience, knowledge and/or skills in any of a range of areas including: law and legal, financial management, housing and homelessness, human resources, community housing.
- Desirable: Prior board experience.
Time commitment
The Board meets 8 times per year, at Wombat’s office in North Melbourne (with virtual option available). Meetings commence at 6pm and finish at 8pm.
The Finance Committee meets up to four times a year and more if needed. The EO Remuneration & Performance Committee meets at least once per year and more often if necessary.
The Board also holds strategic retreats twice per year (For instance, Saturday 10am-3pm).
The Chair will meet with the CEO before each board meeting and strategic retreats to collaboratively develop the agendas. The Chair will also meet with the CEO as required to provide advice and support.
Board background
Wombat is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of up to nine members. The role and responsibilities of the Board are outlined in the organisation’s Governance Policy Framework.
Approach to Governance
The role of the Board is to govern Wombat to ensure its aims and objectives are met whilst also acting ethically and prudently, remaining within the law and meeting specifications set out in the organisation’s funding agreements. The Board establishes the desired ends (outcomes) and monitors the organisation’s performance in achievement of those ends, rather than focusing on the administration of the service.
The Board is committed to:
- Providing strategic leadership by articulating a clear vision for Wombat. Drive the strategic direction of Wombat.
- Working with the CEO to enable Wombat to obtain the resources (fund and people) necessary to implement the strategic objectives.
- Operating on the basis of a clear distinction between the role of the Board and the role of management.
- A collective decision-making process.
The specific tasks of the Board:
- Produce and review policies that define the reason for Wombat’s existence and specify in concrete terms what specific outcomes, products, results or impacts are required of the organisation (i.e., Ends Policies).
- Monitor the organisation’s achievement against these Ends policies.
- Review reports and monitor the performance of Wombat.
- Establish executive limitations which establish clear boundaries around executive (management) authority, activity and decisions.
- Attend to the governance process to ensure that the Board competently conceives, carries out and monitors its task, including establishing and regularly reviewing its philosophy of accountability, outputs, processes and rules of discipline.
- Reviewing the board’s structure and composition to ensure they are appropriate for Wombat.
- Appoint the Wombat CEO and monitor their performance.
- Succession planning for the CEO.
Board Committees
The Wombat Board has two committees- further info provided on request.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee consists of the Treasurer of the Board (Sub-committee Chairperson) plus two other Board members appointed by the Board.
EO Remuneration & Performance Committee
The EO Remuneration & Performance Committee consists of the Chairperson of the Board plus two other Board members, one of whom shall be a member of the Finance Committee.
Required Commitment of Board Members
Board members are required to:
- Act at all times in ways that are consistent with the best interests of the Wombat and the people it serves.
- Attend as many meetings of the Board as is possible.
- Prepare for meetings by thoroughly reading all briefing materials.
- Participate in a collective decision-making process, and then fully support decisions made by the Board through that process.
- Promote the interests of Wombat where possible/appropriate.
About the organisation
Introduction to Wombat
Wombat is a community organisation with a mission to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to attain and maintain suitable housing in and around Melbourne’s West. As well as delivering high quality, consumer centred services, Wombat also takes a leading role in housing sector development and advocacy to State and Commonwealth governments. Our offices and services operate on the lands of Wurundjeri people and we pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.
Wombat has a number of programs aimed at particular groups with-in the community, these include but are not limited to: social housing tenants, young people leaving care, families and single people. Wombat provides case management services, referrals, aid, and connections to other critical services.
Wombat receives recurrent funding from the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services and attracts additional funding from a range of other sources. The net annual operating budget is in the order of $3 M. Positions on the Wombat Board are voluntary.
The Board makes an annual budget allocation to allow Board members to participate in conferences, training, professional development and to cover the cost of Board meetings and other expenses.
Commitment to representation
We encourage applications from people of all ages and experiences, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, intersex and queer people. We will provide adjustments to the recruitment process upon request.
Wombat is committed to ensuring the organisation, including its board and leadership, reflect the rich diversity of the communities- we work with in Melbourne’s West. We understand that increased reflection of community and systematically marginalised people will strengthen Wombat’s governance and quality of services.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this volunteering opportunity.
Please quote in application: Future Chairperson via Pro Bono Australia.
