Targeting:
Females, People with Disabilities, Seniors/Retired People, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Who we are

We are a startup not-for-profit with charitable status and deductible-gift-recipient (DGR) endorsement, established on a national basis to help close the gap in support for victims of domestic violence across Australia.

We exist to serve all victims of family and domestic violence throughout Australia.

We operate on an ongoing basis to:

• provide 24/7 support and advocacy services, and support programmes, to victims of family and domestic violence;
• provide transport services to and from medical and other community services where necessary and practicable, to enable victims of family and domestic violence to access healthcare and additional community assistance;
• establish and operates community centres to provide programmes regarding family and domestic violence that aim to educate and improve public awareness;
• establish and operating virtual programmes regarding family and domestic violence that aim to educate and improve public awareness.

Our vision, mission and values

Vision: Stop family and domestic violence in Australia.

Mission: We defend the rights of people in Australia. We provide 24/7 support to, and advocate for, victims of family and domestic violence, and educate others to respect people’s fundamental rights.

Values: Respect, empathy, accountability.

Position specifications

Location: Remote/hybrid

Status: Unpaid (excluding reasonable expenses)

Time commitment: Approximately 1 day per quarter

Board responsibilities

• determines the strategic direction of STOP DV to ensure the organisation carries out its purpose;
• ensures the development of policies, procedures and programs are consistent with the strategic direction of the organisation;
• ensures the organisation has appropriate governance structures to facilitate compliance with laws, regulations and requirements of funding bodies;
• monitors and evaluates the performance of the organisation against its strategic goals;
• ensures STOP DV provides safe, high quality, responsive, accessible, accountable and effective services through effective risk management structures;
• appoints, oversees and evaluates the work of the Chief Executive Officer.

What we are looking for

• previous board experience or experience;
• knowledge of governance and strategic planning;
• understanding of the community-services sector – in particular, within the family and domestic violence setting – highly desirable;
• alignment with the values and mission of STOP DV;
• high ethical standards and personal integrity;
• demonstrated commercial acumen and judgement;
• confidence and skills to provide constructive oversight and operate as an effective team member;
• time and capacity to make a valuable contribution;
• sufficient financial literacy to understand and interpret financial reports;
• detailed understanding of a board member’s legal and fiduciary responsibilities (relevant governance qualifications highly desirable but not essential).

In addition to the above, Executive Board Directors should possess the following personal attributes:

• integrity: fulfilling a director’s duties and responsibilities, acting ethically, appropriate independence, putting the organisation’s interests before personal interests;
• collaborative, curious and courageous: a director must be able to function as an effective team member but also must have the curiosity to ask questions and the courage to persist in robust discussions with management and fellow board members where required;
• emotional intelligence: as well as self-awareness and self-management, a director needs to demonstrate empathy manifested through strong interpersonal skills. A director must work well in a group, listen well, be tactful yet able to communicate in a cogent and candid viewpoint;
• commercial judgement and instinct: a director needs to demonstrate good business instinct and acumen, an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to undertaking business, and be able to assimilate and synthesise complex information;
• active contribution: a director needs to be an active contributor with genuine interest in the company and its business.

Safeguarding vulnerable people

Our organisation is committed to protecting vulnerable members of our society. We have zero tolerance of abuse. Our robust human resources, recruitment and vetting practices are strictly adhered to during the application and interviewing process.

Background checking will be undertaken, and other pre-employment checks may occur prior to any directorship. Checks may include (but are not limited to):

• a criminal history check;
• a serious discipline history disclosure check;
• Working with Children Check; and
• Working with Vulnerable People.