The importance of governance and risk management

Governance is the system by which organisations are directed and managed, including community groups. As your community action group grows, its governance and management functions (if you have paid staff) may become more complex. Good governance is essential to ensure that your CAG:

As a start it might be useful to recruit someone to your committee who as governance experience and may be able to support your group with this aspect of your operation. You may be able to get some help from a professional in your local area who is interested in corporate volunteering or probono support such as through the Oxfam Skillshare Program

Understanding risk is a key aspect of governance, and a good place to start when working out your CAG’s governance priorities. Risk management can relate to the sustainability or health of your group and volunteer support as well as considering personal or physical riska.

The Our Community website includes a Boards, Committees and Governance Centre that provides a number of useful tools and fact sheets to help groups with governance. Also for more information on Risk Assessment and Management, Our Community provides some helpful guides

If you need legal advice, PILCH (Promoting Law in the Public Interest) may be able to assist through their PilchConnect program that provides free and low cost legal information for not-for-profit community organisations.