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Governance Resource Guide
Welcome to the FTLA Governance Resource Guide 2008/09
Landcare volunteers are achieving great things!
‘Landcare is a uniquely Australian partinership between the community, government and business to “do something practical” about protecting and repairing our environment. More than 4,000 volunteer community landcare groups – including bushcare and urban landcare, rivercare, coast care and sustainable agriculture groups – are tackling land degradation in every corner of Australia’
(www.landcareonline.com, September 2008).
Landcare volunteers are
- Improving our farmlands - combating salinity and erosion and using sound land management practices
- Planting trees, shrubs and native grasses - improvement of soil, water and air quality
- Breathing new life into waterways - conservation and rehabilitation of our river systems
- Improving local coastal and marine environments
- Restoring wildlife habitats
Congratulations! As an elected office bearer or committee member, you have already shown commitment and responsibility to your local community. But encouraging wider participation, practicing good governance, and succession planning so all your Landcare activities can continue can be a challenge.
This governance guide has been produced to provide information for elected committee members of Victorian Landcare Groups, and forms part of a regionally-based training program created in 2007 by the VFF and FTLA. Its current expansion is through the generous support of the DSE Volunteer Recruitment Initiative (VRI).
Intended to demystify 'governance', the following notes provide information on the structure of Landcare and key FTLA documents. However the main sections focus on elements of good governance with reference to the Group Committee and Executive positions, as well as modules on meeting management, communication, leadership, and people (volunteer) management skills, as well as planning and risk management.
The information contained in this guide is the result of a collaborative consultative process. Contributors include the FTLA and VFF, ECG, VRI and the State Landcare team. Further Information Notes and additional reference sources are also available elsewhere in the Gateway Resources section.
A final note in terms of format:
- If you are reading this as an FTLA Group Member, or are interested in FTLA membership, Section 1 of this guide contains FTLA-specific information.
- If you are unsure of the requirements and benefits of incorporation and group insurance, Section 1 will also be helpful.
- Alternatively if you are seeking information on running meetings, action planning, or just a better understanding of the nuts and bolts of the governance game, Section 2 will be the best place to start.
Happy reading and good luck!
Making Governance Work
Good governance is more that just knowing the rules. It is a set of activities that help a Group become healthy, energetic, and effective.
