Governance in the Central West with Kim Boswell
In February 2025, the Central West Landcare Region came together to fine-tune governance.
Capacity building - LEP23-005-CWLL-_RLC04
The issue
Governances is incredibly important for Landcare groups, particularly when many of our regional groups are also employers, run events and projects.
Good governances is crucial to the effective operations of community organisations and to gaining and retaining the confidence of the community, funding bodies, sponsors, volunteers and project partners.
With a new program ahead and employment of several new coordinators across the region, it was timely to engage an expert in governance to challenge and encourage groups to test their governance and strengthen their understanding of the governance issues that are facing not-for-profit organisations.
The solution
As part of the roll out of The Landcare Enabling Program, Landcare NSW engaged long-term Landcarer and friend Kim Boswell from The Forever Agenda to provide assistance to the Landcare regions to assess their current governances compliance, to workshop improvements and move forward with confidence and a mindset of continuous improvement.
Governances is a practice and this package was designed to meet our region where we were at and simplify what is often a complex and confusing, yet vital area of the work that we do as Landcarers.
The impact
Good governance means the structures, activities and operations of the Landcare organisation are conducted in accordance with the principles of legal compliance, probity, transparency, accountability and respect for people within the organisation and for other stakeholders.
The critical component of good governances is that all people involved in the direction and control of our Landcare organisations are aware of and comply with their legal role and responsibilities.
These facilitated workshops provided an opportunity for committees together together and dive deeper into the key areas of governance for the organisation and to address any key areas that require collective action.
Learnings
An understanding of governance and responsibilities of committee members, particularly when employing coordinators and other staff members is crucial.
Compliance and legal responsibilities of committees build stability for a Committee.