FAQs

To be accepted for this course, you must:

1. Complete the Course Application form, which will help us gauge your motivation, interest, academic capacity, and English language skills, as well as your governance, community, business and/or life experience
2. Have the ability to engage with all components of the course, including access to a computer with a good internet connection and modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge etc.)

If you feel our entry requirements present an unreasonable barrier to entry for you, email us at [email protected]. We will do our best to accommodate your request and help you achieve your goals.

The course costs $4500, which includes all content and materials available via the Student Portal for use during the course.

Payment in full is due no later than 10 working days prior to the course commencement date and can be made via electronic funds transfer (EFT), credit card, cheque or money order.

No. Registrations must be paid no later than 10 working days prior to the course commencement date.

At this stage, there is no government fee assistance for this course; however, ICDA works with various partners to allow us to regularly offer part-payment and full-payment scholarships.

Yes, $1000 part-scholarships are currently on offer for community leaders. To view the scholarship rounds available please visit the scholarships page.

Scholarships cannot be combined with any special discounts. Only one scholarship can be granted per applicant.

We do not accept applications for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Each unit in the ICDA Diploma of Governance builds on the learning materials from the previous one. Students are required to complete all units of the course using real-life examples from their own organisation or one of interest in order to gain a practical and comprehensive understanding of not-for-profit governance. We know we could offer RPL and make money out of it (while tying you up in bureaucratic knots in the process), but we think that would be unethical.

We anticipate approximately 5 hours per week over a twelve month period, including assessment, videos content, tutorial webinars and board discussion via the student portal. This may vary depending on the student.

Yes. All content is available online either via the Student Portal or via webinar tutorials. All assessments are also done via the Student Portal.

No. ICDA previously offered the Diploma as a VET-accredited course aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework. In 2020, the Australian Skills Quality Authority decided to remove the course from the national curriculum, despite this being the only Diploma-level course specifically designed for the not-for-profit sector. The course is now accredited by ICDA, which is an Our Community enterprise that’s dedicated to meeting the real-world needs of the Australian not-for-profit sector. The fact that the course has its origins in the Australian Qualifications Framework but is now decoupled from it gives students access to the best of both worlds: assurance of the high quality of the course structure and content, without the rigidity or bureaucracy.

You will be given access to the Student Portal and all the reading materials and video content on the first day of the course (you'll be sent a login for the student portal).

No. We're serious about sustainability. We won't provide hard copies of course materials (course notes, slides, assessment questions etc.) All of this material will be available via the student portal.

You may swap courses with no additional fees up until 10 working days prior to commencement (presuming there is space in your preferred sessions). Please email your request to [email protected]

It's essential that you commit to attending all six tutorials - the intensive learning that occurs during these tutorials cannot be replaced by any other means. However, if you are ill or absolutely unable to attend any part of the course, for any reason, our trainers will work with you to ensure that you have all relevant information and are able to complete all relevant competencies.

You may withdraw from the course up until 10 days from the beginning of the course and receive a full refund of your fees. If you withdraw after this time, but before the first tutorial, you are eligible to receive a 50% refund of your fees. Withdrawals after the first tutorial has taken place will not be refunded.

In extenuating circumstances, we will work with you to defer your studies for 6-12 months after your original enrolment date without financial penalties.

The course is held completely online.

Students will have access to an easy-to-use, purpose-built Student Portal where they can watch videos, draft and lodge assessments, contact their trainer, communicate with other students in their group and explore rich content relating to their studies.

Students must complete one unit assessment per month. Students have 12 months, from the commencement of the first day of their course, to complete all assessments. Extenuating circumstances can be taken into consideration but you must be prepared to stay on track in completing your assessments. We will support you in completing the assessments through our online portal, student webinars and tutorials and interviews with subject matter experts from the sector.

Extenuating circumstances can be taken into consideration but you must be prepared to stay on track in completing your assessments. We will support you in completing the assessments through our online portal, student webinars and tutorials and interviews with subject matter experts from the sector.

Assessments should be submitted as they are completed. Students are expected to complete one assessment per month. There is a deadline of three mandated units per quarter. The deadlines will be reflected in the student portal.

Students are expected to complete one assessment per month, and three assessments per quarter in any order as long as they are completed by the due date.

Please contact your trainer directly for any questions regarding assessments or course material. This can be done via the student portal.

Submitted material is treated with the utmost care and discretion. All responses are treated confidentially and will not be used for any other purpose other than for assessment.

This is a competency-based assessment, meaning we support you to gain the knowledge you need to prove that you are competent in each unit. We provide feedback on your assessments. Where we think your response indicates a lack of knowledge, we will guide you to that knowledge as long as you have submitted the assessment before the deadline for completion of the unit (another reason to get started on your assessments as early as possible). Once you have answered each question within a unit to a satisfactory level, you will be deemed Competent in that unit. You will then be given a grade of Pass, Credit or Distinction for that unit.

As described above, this is a competency-based assessment - your assessor will work with you until you have reached the required level of competency.

Once you have completed all of the assessments to an adequate standard, ICDA will award you a Diploma of Governance.

You will receive feedback on your assessment via the student portal within eight weeks of submitting the assessment.

Participants who successfully complete the requirements of the ICDA Diploma of Governance will be eligible to use the post-nominals:

• Dip. Gov. and,
• FICDA - Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia (while they remain a financial member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia)

People who complete the course (including minimum attendance requirements) but do not submit assessment, or do not complete the assessment satisfactorily, are still eligible for recognition via the Institute of Community Directors Australia, through the use of the post-nominal:

• MICDA - Member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia (while they remain a member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia)

While the designation Dip. Gov. does not expire, in order to keep using ICDA designations ("FICDA" or "MICDA") you must remain a member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia.

The Institute of Community Directors Australia is a professional body established by Our Community to support quality governance within the Australian not-for-profit sector. In order to ensure that the highest standards are maintained, we require that all individuals using the FICDA credentials remain informed of the latest news and practices from around Australia and the world. Membership of ICDA is our way of ensuring you have signed the Code of Conduct and stay in the loop and up to date.

The Institute of Community Directors Australia provides a quarterly newsletter as part of membership. This assists in keeping you informed and updated on issues related to governance in the sector. We also post relevant materials and references on our website and through our social media channels that will also help keep your knowledge up to date.

We also recommend you attend ICDA's annual conference and other networking and training opportunities as they arise.

You will develop a network of peers in the course you undertake. In addition, ICDA will be implementing networking opportunities throughout Australia. We also encourage you to become actively engaged in our social media discussions. Link up with the Institute of Community Directors Australia on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.