Organisation : Women's Health Victoria
Location : Melbourne
Work type : Part-time
Sector : Community Support Services, Health – General, Women
Salary type : Volunteer
Application closing date : 14 Oct, 2020
About the organisation
Women’s Health Victoria (WHV) is a Victorian women’s health promotion, advocacy & support service. We have a proud 25-year history, with a commitment to empowering women & tackling gender inequality to improve the health & wellbeing of all Victorian women. We have a dedicated team of 30 staff, more than 50 volunteers, & turnover of $2.5m+ per annum.
We are committed to improving the social, emotional & physical health & wellbeing of women throughout their lives so they can participate fully in society. We believe that gender equality is essential to achieve this & underpins everything we do.
WHV has played a leadership role:
- Key reforms – Abortion Law Reform & Safe Access Zones, Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy, State Gov.’s agenda for the Prevention of Violence Against Women, Victoria Gov.’s Women’s Sexual & Reproductive Priorities
- 1800MyOptions, Victoria’s first phoneline for contraception, pregnancy options & sexual health
- Labia Library – ensuring women are better informed about genital diversity before they resort to genital cosmetic surgery. This website is widely used by women around the world & is a recommended tool in the Australian GP guidelines.
- Counterpart – first ever peer support service for women with cancer operating for nearly 20 years.
- Women’s Mental Health Alliance – Leading an alliance (30+ organisations & experts), established out of concern the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System needed to have a gendered approach if mental health outcomes for women were going to be improved.
- Atlas - a website providing interactive access to sex-disaggregated health & socioeconomic data at statewide & local levels.
- Take a Stand - An award-winning workplace program to prevent violence against women through leadership, bystander action & workplace policies.
- Development of the first accredited Gender Equity course in Australia
- shEqual – Leading the first coordinated effort in Australia to address the drivers of violence against women in advertising.
WHV is an independent, not-for-profit organisation endorsed as a health promotion charity. We work with women, health professionals, researchers, community organisations & policy makers to influence & inform health policy & service delivery for women. WHV is part of the Women’s Health Program which includes 11 other Women’s Health Services, 9 regional & two state-wide organisations.
Vision: Women living well: healthy, empowered, equal
Purpose: We are champions for every Victorian woman’s health & wellbeing
Values: Respect; Inclusion; Innovation; Courage; Excellence
Our priority areas: Prevention of Violence against Women (PVAW), Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH), Women’s Mental Health & Body Image, Women’s Equality, Women & Cancer
About the role
Our board members, staff & volunteers work to a values-based code of conduct. This code sets expectations about our leadership & integrity, supports our belief in empowerment of others, solidifies our feminist commitment to women’s rights & challenges gender norms, practices & structures.
There are twelve positions on the WHV Board & there will be three retirements in 2021. As part of its succession planning the Board is seeking expressions of interest from passionate individuals for co-option onto one of four task groups in early 2021, with a view to standing for election to the Board as Non-Executive Directors in October 2021.
The Board has a number of task groups currently in operation:
- Governance Task Group
- Finance & Risk Task Group
- Policy & Programs Task Group
- Fundraising & Communications Task Group
Role as a co-opted member on a Task Group
- Participate in orientation to WHV
- Attend relevant task group Task Group meetings (4 per year)
- Attend annual Board planning meeting
- Participate in working groups that may be set up from time to time for a specific task or activity
Role as Non-Executive Director once elected to the Board
- Board members are required to serve on at least one Board task group.
- Board members can be expected to contribute approximately 4 hours per month including participation in 6 Board/planning meetings per year.
- Attendance in person is preferable (post COVID-19 restrictions) for meetings but online capability is available.
Role Responsibilities
- Strategic direction – set the strategic direction & position the organisation for future growth & maximum impact of the Vision. Participate with management in setting strategies, goals & policies to deliver the organisations Vision.
- Performance – monitor the organisation’s performance against its strategies & targets to meet government, funders & community expectations.
- Compliance – ensure there are adequate processes in place to comply with legal & accounting requirements.
- Risk – ensure the risks to which the organisation is exposed are clearly identified & suitable processes are in place to manage those risks.
- Accountability to Stakeholders – Align collective interests of stakeholders, Board, management, staff & volunteers.
Board & task group roles are voluntary positions with expenses reimbursed.
How to apply
Applications not allowed for this job listing.
Please quote in application: Board sub-committee Expression of Interest via Pro Bono Australia.
Sector: #Community_Support_Services, #Health_–_General, #Women
