Governance

NACCHO operates under a robust governance structure with embedded mechanisms for engaging with its 144 members, the eight jurisdictional affiliates, and key stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability. The governance structure was designed in the light of NACCHO’s commitment to the principle of community control.

NACCHO Board

As set out in the NACCHO constitution, the Board is comprised of 16 directors, including: a Chair and Deputy Chair, who are elected by the members directly (serving three-year terms), with the remaining 14 directors appointed annually by the eight state/territory jurisdictions.

At least four Board meetings are scheduled annually. They are attended by the Company Secretary, CEO and Deputy CEO. All NACCHO directors are offered formal training and assistance. There is a Code of Conduct for directors and a NACCHO Board Governance Charter.

Three key NACCHO committees report to the Board.

Audit and Assurance Committee
Finance Committee
Remuneration Committee

The Board sets NACCHO’s strategic directions through a formal five-year plan that is regularly reviewed, updated and published.

The Chief Executive Officer and Secretariat

The NACCHO Board sets organisational priorities and develops Strategic Directions under the leadership of the Chair and with active support from the CEO. The Chair liaises with the CEO to ensure these priorities are understood and translated into agreed activities that the Secretariat undertakes through an annual Business Plan. This is monitored and managed by the CEO, who reports regularly to the Board.

NACCHO Constitution

As a registered charity operating as a company limited by guarantee, NACCHO operates under a formal constitution, as well as meeting its legal obligations under the Corporations Act and other legislation.

NACCHO prides itself on a long history of community control. It is accountable to its 144 members. The NACCHO constitution requires it to hold an Annual General Meeting each calendar year. This involves the presentation of the Annual Report, agenda papers for the Board, and reporting requirements to adhere with ASIC and ACNC requirements.

Governance Charter

The NACCHO Governance Charter brings together in one place all the governance policies –‘rules’ – that the board considers necessary for the internal control and proper governance of the organisation.

In essence it forms the organisation’s policy framework to control the situations, actions and behaviours of everyone in the organisation by clearly articulating who is responsible for what, who they are accountable to and the authorities and constraints each person is to work within.

Consultations on a New Constitution

NACCHO has been holding extensive consultations on the development of a new constitution since 2017. The Board initiated a review of NACCHO’s constitution in order to ensure that it is clear and accessible, that it enables best practice governance and to make NACCHO more directly controlled by its members. The review was comprehensive and developed following numerous consultations with members, including:

49 state-based consultations attended by over 560 representatives from members
and affiliates in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019;
an electronic survey on the constitution distributed to all members in 2017/18;
a two-day workshop in Sydney in July 2019 which was attended by over 130
representatives from over 100 members.

NACCHO plans to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to put a new constitution to members, as soon as practicable after the COVID-19 crisis and the relaxation of travel restrictions and health orders across the country.