Board Member (Voluntary) - Wollongong

We're inviting women to join the Women Illawarra Board and help lead an organisation that has stood alongside women and children in the Illawarra since 1979. As a Board Member, you'll share collective responsibility for our strategic direction, governance and financial oversight, working alongside our Chair, fellow Board Members and General Manager to keep us true to our mission and accountable to the women and communities we serve.

It's an exciting time to join us. We're deliberately growing and diversifying our Board ahead of our next phase, and we're recruiting for several seats at once, each bringing different strengths. You don't need to tick every box below to be the right person for one of them, we'd love to hear from you.

About Us

Women Illawarra is a not-for-profit, feminist community organisation run by women for women. Founded in 1979 as the Wollongong Women's Information Service, it has been at the forefront of campaigns for women's issues and was instrumental in establishing many women's health, housing and domestic violence services across the region. It assists women and children affected by domestic and family violence, isolation, marginalisation and disadvantage, delivering domestic and family violence support, education, community programs, and resource and referral services from Helensburgh to Gerroa.

Women Illawarra operates on Dharawal Country. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Women Illawarra is a legally incorporated association, registered with the ACNC as a Public Benevolent Institution and holding ATO deductible gift recipient status, employing a small paid staff alongside its volunteer Board, with programs largely delivered under funding agreements with government funders.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Board's collective responsibility for setting strategic direction, approving policy, and overseeing organisational and financial performance, working within the Board's agreed governance framework.
• Attend and actively participate in monthly Board meetings, reading papers in advance and bringing sound, well-reasoned judgement to Board decisions.
• Exercise the duties of a director in good faith and in the best interests of Women Illawarra, including identifying, declaring and appropriately managing any conflicts of interest.
• Bring relevant expertise, networks or lived experience to strengthen the Board's collective capability, while respecting that the Board governs collectively and does not direct staff or day-to-day operations.
• Support the Chair and General Manager as needed, including through subcommittee work, community representation or specific projects agreed by the Board, and contribute to the Board's own development and succession planning.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• A genuine commitment to Women Illawarra's mission of supporting women and children towards safety, empowerment and wellbeing, and to its feminist, social justice approach.
• Sound judgement and strategic thinking, with a clear understanding of the distinction between Board governance and operational management.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully as part of a Board, exercising independent judgement while supporting collective decision making.
• Willingness to undergo a national police check and ASIC check, and to comply with Women Illawarra's Constitution, code of conduct and conflict of interest requirements.

Desirable:

We are especially interested to hear how your background fits one or more of the following areas.

Clinical or health background

• Registered health professional (for example psychologist, GP, psychiatrist, or obstetrician/gynaecologist), with an understanding of the health needs of women and children affected by domestic and family violence.

Community, sector or lived experience

• Experience working in community services, psychosocial support or trauma-informed practice.
• Connection to Aboriginal or multicultural communities, or LGBTQIA+ community experience or perspective.
• Lived experience relevant to the women and communities Women Illawarra serves.

Not-for-profit governance or Board experience

• Prior experience serving on a not-for-profit board, committee or similar governance body.

Government, non-government or funder networks

• Established networks or professional experience within government, peak bodies or partner organisations relevant to the community services sector, including advocacy or government relations experience.

Commitment

• The Board meets monthly in Wollongong (currently the second Tuesday of the month, 6.00pm, about 90 minutes), plus two strategy days a year (half day to full day each). Meetings and preparation add up to around 3 to 5 hours a month; strategy days and any subcommittee or project work are on top of that.
• Women Illawarra holds Directors and Officers insurance, covering Board Members in the conduct of their duties.
• New Board Members receive an induction covering our Constitution, governance policies and current priorities. You'll also be supported by the Chair and General Manager as you settle into the role. We want you to feel confident and welcome from day one.