Participant Portal: ACCO Governance Training Program
Welcome to the ACCO Governance Training Program, delivered in partnership by VACCHO, Koorie Youth and the Institute of Community Directors Australia.
Congratulations on being selected to take part in this program.
Here you will find further information for the program, including:
- Your workbook
- A program timeline
- Key details for the in-person event taking place in Geelong on Saturday 14 November
- Mentoring circle details
- Supplementary reading.
Please click the buttons below to access different areas of this site.
Program timeline
Program kicks off. You now have access to this portal and can begin your studies.
Good governance is about more than understanding roles, responsibilities and legal obligations. It is about strengthening community-controlled organisations so they can continue to serve community with integrity, purpose and cultural strength. This highly interactive workshop combines storytelling, discussion, practical board simulations and real-world governance dilemmas to explore how good governance supports strong ACCOs.
Participants will reflect on their own experiences, build confidence in making good governance decisions, and explore how members, boards, CEOs and staff work together to achieve positive community outcomes. Throughout the day we will consider how governance, culture and community can be woven together to strengthen self-determination, build trust and support future generations.
Participants will leave with practical governance tools, greater confidence in their role, and a deeper understanding of how good governance can strengthen culture, community and self-determination within Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
Please note: Participation in this workshop is mandatory.
Key details:
Date: Saturday 14 November
Time: 9.30am-4pm
Location: Wathaurong Booln Booln Cultural Centre in Geelong
Facilitators: Jon Staley and Nicole Cassar
This mentoring circle builds on the face-to-face ACCO governance workshop. It gives participants space to reflect on what they learned, hear from an experienced ACCO leader and explore how governance and leadership play out in Community-Controlled organisations.
Through Nicole’s story, small-group discussion and shared reflection, participants will consider relationships between Community, members, boards and organisational leaders. The conversation will focus on trust, accountability, Cultural integrity, member participation and navigating difficult expectations. Participants will connect workshop scenarios with their own experience and identify something practical to take back to their board or organisation.
Key details
Date: Tuesday 17 November
Time: 6.00pm-7.30pm
Location: Online
In-person workshop
Good governance is about more than understanding roles, responsibilities and legal obligations. It is about strengthening community-controlled organisations so they can continue to serve community with integrity, purpose and cultural strength. This highly interactive workshop combines storytelling, discussion, practical board simulations and real-world governance dilemmas to explore how good governance supports strong ACCOs.
Participants will reflect on their own experiences, build confidence in making good governance decisions, and explore how members, boards, CEOs and staff work together to achieve positive community outcomes. Throughout the day we will consider how governance, culture and community can be woven together to strengthen self-determination, build trust and support future generations.
Participants will leave with practical governance tools, greater confidence in their role, and a deeper understanding of how good governance can strengthen culture, community and self-determination within Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
Please note: Participation in this workshop is mandatory.
Key details:
Date: Saturday 14 November
Time: 9.30am-4pm
Location: Wathaurong Booln Booln Cultural Centre in Geelong
Agenda
| Time | Session | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 9.30am - 10.00am | Registration and cuppa | Arrive and get settled in. |
| 10.00am – 10.30am | Welcome and setting the scene | Introductions, workshop journey and why governance matters within community-controlled organisations. |
| 10.30am – 11.15am | Governance, leadership and the role of the board | Explore what good governance looks like through practical scenarios, healthy board unity and the role of the board as stewards of community purpose. |
| 11.15am – 11.30am | Morning tea | |
| 11.30am – 12.30pm | Making good decisions together | Experience a simulated board meeting and explore how boards balance purpose, culture, community, people, sustainability, risk and accountability when making decisions. |
| 12.30pm – 1.15pm | Lunch | |
| 1.15pm – 2.30pm | One community, many roles, shared purpose | Explore how members, boards, CEOs and staff each contribute to strong community-controlled organisations, and how healthy governance and management work together. |
| 2.30pm – 2.45pm | Afternoon tea | |
| 2.45pm – 3.45pm | Legal duties, ethics and cultural integrity | Apply directors' legal duties to real governance dilemmas and consider how ethical decision making and cultural integrity work together in practice. |
| 3.45pm – 4.00pm | Reflections and close | Key learnings, practical actions and resources to support participants beyond the workshop. |
Session slides
To be released after the program.
Mentoring circle
Facilitators: Jon Staley and Nicole Cassar
This mentoring circle builds on the face-to-face ACCO governance workshop. It gives participants space to reflect on what they learned, hear from an experienced ACCO leader and explore how governance and leadership play out in Community-Controlled organisations.
Through Nicole’s story, small-group discussion and shared reflection, participants will consider relationships between Community, members, boards and organisational leaders. The conversation will focus on trust, accountability, Cultural integrity, member participation and navigating difficult expectations. Participants will connect workshop scenarios with their own experience and identify something practical to take back to their board or organisation.
| Time | Session | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 6.00–6.10pm | Welcome and reconnect | Welcome participants, acknowledge Country and reconnect with the face-to-face workshop and the purpose of the mentoring circle. |
| 6.10–6.30pm | Nicole’s story: Community, leadership and responsibility | Nicole shared her personal and professional journey, and her reflections on leadership in a Community-Controlled organisation. |
| 6.30–6.40pm | Conversation with Nicole | A facilitated conversation about Community expectations, relationships, accountability, trust and carrying responsibility. |
| 6.40–7.00pm | Breakout: Members, Community and the AGM | Use the AGM scenario to explore healthy member participation, what may sit beneath conflict, how leaders respond during the meeting and how trust can be strengthened afterwards. |
| 7.00–7.15pm | Trust, accountability and Cultural integrity | Whole-group discussion about what builds or damages trust, navigating competing expectations, responding without defensiveness, disagreeing well and maintaining Cultural integrity. |
| 7.15–7.25pm | Bringing the learning together | Revisit workshop scenarios including Jayden, Strong Connections, Janice, board and management roles, and governance dilemmas. Ask what has stayed with participants and what tonight has added. |
| 7.25–7.30pm | Reflection and close | Invite each participant to name one learning or action they will carry into their own board, organisation or leadership practice. |
Key details
Date: Tuesday 17 November
Time: 6.00pm-7.30pm
Location: Online