Governance Hub
Visit the Governance Hub to find resources, support and opportunities to help you and your organisation create and sustain effective, meaningful governance practices.
Here you can find arts and cultural sector specific guides, templates, case studies and conversations, or explore more in Additional resources and Support.
About the opportunity
Australia Council for the Arts is delighted to offer world-class governance training with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) for individuals via the Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors Course.
This 1.5-day course, to be delivered online, will provide participants with an understanding of fundamental compliance and performance related roles and the responsibilities of not-for-profit (NFP) directors, specifically in the areas of governance, risk, strategy and financial performance.
The opportunity is open to individuals in the arts and creative industries who are working outside of organisations. It is for individuals with no prior board director experience who are seeking to build capacity and capability in this area with the ambition to accept a directorship role on an arts / creative industries board.
If you need advice about applying, contact an Artists Services Officer.
- Examine the duties and responsibilities of directors in NFP organisations.
- Outline the role of the regulatory authorities in the NFP sector.
- Compare the role of directors in NFP organisations with the role of directors in the commercial sector.
- Explain the role of the board in developing strategy.
- Establish the link between strategy and risk management, risk culture and effective leadership.
- Explain the major elements of the financial statements and the linkages between the financial statements.
- Identify a director’s duties regarding an organisation’s financial statements and financial reports.
- Discuss the board’s role in improving financial performance.
The program consists of three half-day courses:
- 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
This program has a length of 1.5 days with further time allocated for completing the pre-coursework (approximately one day in duration). To support the learning within this program, participants who enrol in the program also receive a recording of The Role of the Not-for-Profit Director webinar and access to the Interpreting Financial Statements eLearning course.
Access to the pre-coursework will be available three weeks prior to the course date. Participants are required to complete this in preparation before attending the online classroom sessions.
This opportunity is only open to:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- Culturally and Linguistically diverse people
- People in regional/remote areas
- People with Disability
- Younger People (25 and under).
Only individuals may apply for this opportunity. You must be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident, and a practicing artist or arts worker.
You can’t apply if:
- you have undertaken previous training with the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- you have an overdue grant report
- you owe money to us
- you are applying as a group or organisation
If you are working in an organisation you may be eligible for the Governance Training for Organisations (1.5 day) or Governance Training for Organisations (3 day) opportunities.
Applications will be reviewed and assessed by Australia Council staff. Your application will be based on merit, response to the selection criteria below, and in line with Australia Council’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Selection Criteria:
- Timeliness and relevance of the training opportunity to your professional development.
- The impact the proposed activity will have on your career.
- Commitment to implementing learnings for the sustainability of the arts sector.
Frequently asked questions
We are supporting a number of fully subsidised (free) places in this course.
Alternatively, individuals seeking to secure a place with arts and creative industries peers can cover the cost. For more information about paid places, please email leadershipprogram@creative.gov.au.
We are working with the AICD’s Board Advance team to offer this course specifically for creative industries professionals.
Online. The Course will be delivered online utilising Zoom video conferencing technology and appropriate technology capabilities are required.
A link to access each Online facilitation session will be made available to Participants in the MyLearning “My Courses” page.
This course is digitally accessible. Please get in touch if you have any specific access requirements.
Applicants must be available for the two days of the course and have capacity to undertake a full day of pre-reading and preparation in the three weeks leading up to the course date.
During the two days of the online teaching the hours will be:
- Day 1: 11am-6:30pm (AEDT)
- Day 2: 11am-2:30pm (AEDT)
The course will be delivered by expert facilitators from the AICD faculty with directorship experience in a similar sector or industry.
The learning approach takes the form of a series of facilitated discussions and interactive case studies that consolidate understanding.
For any questions or further information please email leadershipprogram@creative.gov.au or call +61 2 9215 9058.