Invitation from the Board of Brain Injury SA to people with lived experience of brain injury
The Board of Brain Injury SA holds a broad range of skills and experience amongst its membership. It recognizes the importance of good governance in its decision making whilst deepening its understanding of the service needs of living with brain injury.
The Board appreciates that people living with brain injury may have many skills and insights to contribute to a community service board but may also be reluctant to undertake the full responsibility as a Board member. This may be because they have not had exposure to the role and responsibilities of a director for a range of reasons, including experiencing brain injury.
To Board has created the role of Board Trainee to provide an opportunity to someone living with brain injury to gain experience in governance and actively contribute to the directions of services delivered by Brain Injury SA.
The Board Trainee will gain valuable board experience, governance training, and develop personal networks within the NFP governance community. During the traineeship the recipient will have a Board member allocated as a mentor, who will be available to meet regularly to discuss the recipient’s professional development goals. As a trainee, they will participate fully in all aspects of Board discussions and deliberations but will not be entitled to vote and will not hold the usual responsibilities as a Board Director.
The Board of Brain Injury SA are now recruiting for the role of Board trainee. This will operate as follows:
- Appointment – through application and selection process
- Appointment duration – the successful applicant will be appointed for a one-year traineeship, following which they may be interested in seeking appointment as a full Board member.
Board Responsibilities:
- To explain and offer training access on Director responsibilities, even though these will not apply to the trainee
- To include the trainee as a full and equal Board member on all matters except voting.
- To actively support the appointed Trainee through encouragement to contribute opinions and ideas and give access to advice and mentoring as requested by the Trainee and subject to time available of individual Board members.
Trainee Responsibilities:
- To bring experience to Board meeting discussions and actively contribute
- To be open to learning, identifying needs for guidance or clarification on any matters under discussion
- To adhere to all policy and procedure guiding governance activities within the organisation including the signing of a confidentiality and code of conduct agreement.
- To attend approximately one meeting/event per month over a 12 month period, including:
- 80% meetings of the Board
- At least one meeting of each of the Board sub-committees:
- Finance, Audit Risk
- Governance
- At the end of placement, to give a short presentation to the Board on the experience and how it can be strengthened
Criteria for selection
Essential:
- Successful candidates must have lived experience of brain injury
- Applicants must be over 18
- Commitment to attend Board meetings, subcommittee meetings and events as required.
- A strong commitment and passion in achieving excellence in service delivery to people living with brain injury.
- A demonstrated capacity to understand and adhere to principles necessary for this role including confidentiality and informed diligence.
Desirable:
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate strong interest and enthusiasm for progressing the development of BISA as both a service provider and peak body.
- Applicants can identify why they are interested in a governance role and how this experience might contribute to their life goals
- Applicants demonstrate a commitment to expanding opportunities for others living with brain injury in the community
Note: In line with all Board appointments, this is a voluntary position and is not paid, although expenses incurred in meeting attendance can be paid as agreed at appointment.
Selection process
All applications will be reviewed by the Governance Committee using the above criteria. Interviews may be conducted with short listed candidates and will be in person.
A completed application should include:
- Full Name, Address, date of birth, contact details – email and telephone number as a minimum.
- What you know about Brain Injury SA and how did you find out about this role?
- Why you would like to be appointed as a Board Trainee of the Board of Brain Injury SA?
- What do you think are the strengths you would bring to the role?
- What support or assistance would you be looking for to fulfil your role as a Board trainee?
- What you would like to get from this experience of a governance role?
plus
- Any other information you would like to contribute in your application
Applications can be in written or video format.
Submit Applications by Friday 13th March 2020
All applications must be submitted to Liz Forsyth, CEO, BISA by close of business, Friday 13th March 2020. Email applications to: lizf@braininjurysa.org.au
If you have any questions prior to applying, please contact Liz Forsyth at BISA 08 82177600.
It is anticipated that appointment to this role will commence from April 2020.
A bit about Brain Injury SA…
Our Vision
Embrace life after brain injury
Our Purpose
“Acquire Brain Injury (ABI) is the “multiple disabilities arising from damage to the brain acquired after birth. It results in deterioration in cognitive, physical, emotional or independent functioning. It can be as a result of accidents, tumours, infection, poisoning, lack of oxygen, degenerative neurological disease etc.”
– National Community Services Data Dictionary – Australian Institute of Health and Well Being, Canberra, 2012
As a Peak Body and a Service Provider, Brain Injury SA works with and for the ABI community to:
- Empower people to determine and work towards their goals
- Provide tailored and accessible therapy services to maximise quality of life
- Assist in addressing barriers and issues arising from living with disabilities
- Support families and carers
- Advocate for and work to deliver increased community and government awareness, inclusion and assistance for people living with ABI
- Continuously improve the value and quality of services through research, evaluation and development
