your guide to community organisation governance … · 2019. 5. 10. · an overview of...

YOUR GUIDE TO COMMUNITY ORGANISATION GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT ACCREDITATION

WWW.PATHWAYSAUSTRALIA.COM.AU PAGE | 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

An overview of accreditation..................................................................................

Nine good reasons for doing it!..............................................................................

Recognition…well deserved!..................................................................................

The nine accreditation principles............................................................................

How your score is assessed.....................................................................................

How to determine your organisation’s category...................................................

How the assessment process works.......................................................................

Requests for accreditation level upgrades.............................................................

If you disagree with our assessment......................................................................

Fees..........................................................................................................................

Free support and contact information...................................................................

About Pathways Australia.......................................................................................

Appendix 1. Ready Reckoner...................................................................................

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Accreditation is a process through which an organisation’s governance, management and operations can be objectively assessed against a common set of criteria and then rewarded and recognised for reaching appropriate standards.

Increasingly, community service organisations of all kinds are competing for funds, members, volunteers and other forms of support. Those able to demonstrate that they operate ethically, legally and effectively have a much greater chance of attracting the support they need. Accreditation provides the proof!

Most likely you are very passionate about your organisation, the work it does and the outcomes it achieves. Unfortunately though we are often so busy ‘doing the work’ we don’t spend time asking ourselves how well we are governing our organisation and how effectively we are achieving what we were established to do! Again, accreditation is a valuable tool that can help you answer those questions.

Progressing through our accreditation process will help you identify your organisation’s strengths so you can build on them and it will also allow to spot weaknesses that you may not be aware of, and that if addressed will make your organisation stronger and more effective.

Importantly rather than finding the process onerous and difficult (in fact we’ve made it very easy and straightforward), nearly all organisation leaders find it very beneficial and useful …. and can move forward with confidence knowing they are running a ‘tight ship’!

AN OVERVIEW OF ACCREDITATION


There is a multitude of reasons why your organisation will benefit very significantly by becoming an accredited organisation. Here are just a few.

1. An entitlement to use our accreditation logo on all of your marketing materials, signage and other documentation

2. The awarding of an attractive certificate of accreditation will be awarded which you can display in your premises to confirm your status

3. The proof (and prestige that goes with it) that your organisation has been assessed as being well-governed, well-managed and effective

4. Increased attractiveness to Local, State and Commonwealth funding bodies

5. Increased attractiveness to donors and other benefactors

6. Increased attractiveness to corporate sponsors and other support groups

7. Increased attractiveness to potential members

8. Increased attractiveness to volunteers

9. Confidence in your organisation’s ability to make a positive and valuable community contribution.

NINE GOOD REASONS FOR DOING IT


Although you should not find the accreditation process too difficult or onerous, achieving such a status should be celebrated and recognised.

As soon as we have completed the assessment of your application and find your organisation has achieved an appropriate score we will advise you in writing and also provide you with two important symbols of recognition.

Depending on your assessment score you will be classified as having reached Gold, Silver or Bronze status if you are an organisation with annual revenue of at least $100,000. If your organisation’s revenue is less than $100,000 you will be accredited without a status .

Each accredited organisation receives a certificate of accreditation and will be entitled to use our special accreditation seal on your stationery, signage and marketing materials. Here is some information about accreditation levels:

RECOGNITION...WELL DESERVED

GOLD SILVER BRONZESMALL

ORGANISATION

This standard is achieved when an organisation’s assessment score is at least 90% and all mandatory standards have been achieved.

This standard is achieved when an organisation’s assessment score is atleast 80% and all mandatory standards have been achieved.

This standard is achieved when an organisation’s assessment score is at least 70% and all mandatory standards have been achieved.

This is a special category for organisations with annual revenue less than $100,000 when the assessment score is at least 80% and all mandatory standards have been achieved.

Gold Standardawarded to

Accreditation valid until

Test

Test

Silver Standardawarded to


Bronze Standardawarded to


Small Organisationawarded to



The accreditation program is based upon nine important organisational governance and management principles and each has a number of underlying standards that need to be met. Here is a brief explanation of each principle.

PRINCIPLE 1: THE ORGANISATION IS GOVERNED EFFECTIVELY

This principle places an emphasis on how well your board members understand and implement their very important roles and responsibilities, whether the board is comprised of people who have the necessary skills, how they work together and whether the board is structured to produce the best possible outcomes for the organisation.

PRINCIPLE 2: THE ORGANISATION HAS A CLEAR PURPOSE & STRATEGY

This principle places an emphasis on the importance of the board, CEO, senior management and indeed all organisational stakeholders having an agreed organisational mission and comprehensives strategies that will deliver desirable outcomes.

PRINCIPLE 3: THE ORGANISATION IS ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT AND ETHICAL

This principle highlights the need for community organisations to be accountable to its constituents, supporters and other stakeholders, to be fair, equitable, transparent and ethical in its dealings.

PRINCIPLE 4: THE ORGANISATION IS ENGAGING AND INCLUSIVE

This principle seeks to emphasise the need for organisations to be welcoming and supportive. It also emphasises the importance of reaching out to people who may wish to serve the organisation or need its help, rather than being inward-looking and exclusive.

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THE 9 ACCREDITATION PRINCIPLES


PRINCIPLE 5: OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT IS EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT

This principle highlights the need for community organisations to operate in ways that ensure the best use of resources, funds and other assets and to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and capability in the organisation to enable it to achieve its objectives.

PRINCIPLE 6: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT

This principle seeks to emphasise the importance of ensuring that funds and other resources given to the organisation are managed prudently, transparently and with considerable care and skill.

PRINCIPLE 7: FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED EFFECTIVELY AND ETHICALLY

This principle highlights the need for community organisations to act ethically and properly when soliciting support from donors and to be mindful of the need to expend funds on fundraising activities in a responsible and prudent manner.

PRINCIPLE 8: HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT

The principle seeks to place emphasis on the importance of remunerated employees and volunteers and the need to ensure that the organisations deals and supports them in their important work.

PRINCIPLE 9: ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE IS UNDERSTOOD, RECORDED AND REPORTED

This final principle highlights the need for community organisations to understand ‘what success looks like’ and to have in place a mechanism that will enable outputs, outcomes and impacts to be understood, assessed and recorded.

...CONTINUED, THE 9 ACCREDITATION PRINCIPLES


HOW YOUR SCORE IS ASSESSED

Each principle is supported by a number of underlying standards and one point is awarded for each standard with which your organisation complies. The result is calculated as a percentage score and it is this, together with your confirmed compliance with certain critical standards that determines whether your organisation can be accredited and if so, at what level.

Your organisation’s size will determine the necessary level of compliance. Larger organisations will need to comply with more standards than very small ones. Organisations are categorised according to their total income from all sources during the most recent accounting year. Please note that your category is not determined by your organisation’s surplus or profit.

HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR ORGANISATION’S CATEGORY

Your organisation’s category is determined by your level of annual income from all sources.

In turn your category determines two things:

1. Which self-assessment questionnaire you need to complete

2. Accreditation fee level

Please see Attachment 1 for category levels.


HOW THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS WORKS

The assessment process is a combination of self-assessment and independent verification by Pathways Australia.

Here is an explanation of the steps involved in accreditation:

Establish your team

Establish a small accreditation team of senior people in your organisation to manage the accreditation application process.

Conduct the self-assessment

Examine each standard and make a decision about whether your organisation currently complies and how you can verify that if evidence is requested. This is a most important step because an important part of the process is independent verification by Pathways Australia. If we find that your claim that you comply with a certain standards is false or cannot be verified your application for accreditation will be delayed, your organisation will incur additional fees and it is also possible that accreditation will be denied.

To become accredited you will not only have to reach a certain score but it will also be mandatory for you to comply with a number of the most important standards. These are in bold.

Re-check your self-assessment before moving to the next step

Submit your application

Complete and send us your application cover sheet including the declaration to be signed by two directors or committee and a copy of your self-assessment

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Initial independent assessment and request for verification

We will conduct an initial assessment and then request that you send us documentation that will verify that you meet certain standards. The standards for which verification will be required are selected at random and are used by us the gauge the likely overall level of compliance and the accuracy of your entire self-assessment.

Final independent assessment and notification of result

When we have received the requested documentation it will be examined and your application assessment process will be finalised. You will then receive notification of the outcome which will be one of the following:

• Your organisation has achieved accreditation for a period of three years and at what level

• Your organisation has not achieved accreditation. You will advised of the reason for that assessment and what you need to do

You receive your accreditation certificate and seal

Accredited organisations will then receive their accreditation certificate and an electronic file containing the accreditation seal artwork

Verification of ongoing compliance in years 2 and 3

Towards the end of your first and second year of accreditation you will be requested to confirm that your organisation is maintaining its accreditation standard level. We will also request that you verify compliance with a number of randomly selected standards which we will select at random and will be used by us to gauge the likely overall level of compliance and the accuracy of your confirmation.

Full re-assessment in year 4

When your three year accreditation process concludes your organisation will be required to commence the full accreditation application process once again. Please note that organisations may only display the symbols of accreditation while they continue to meet the necessary standards.

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REQUESTS FOR ACCREDITATION LEVEL UPGRADES

If at any time during your three-year accreditation period you feel as if the organisation warrants a higher level grading you can request a further assessment. Please contact us to discuss options.

IF YOU DISAGREE WITH OUR ASSESSMENT

If you disagree with our assessment you may request for a review. While no guarantee is given that a re-assessment will be undertaken by us or that if we do undertake a re-assessment the result will be different we are always willing to listen and investigate your case.


FEES

To ensure that the accreditation program is maintained at a high standard it needs to be funded through contributions made by those organisations seeking accreditation.

We are very sensitive to the financial position of most community service organisations and therefore we have developed a fee structure based on a sliding scale dependent upon your overall annual income. Organisations with small revenues will in fact be provided with a full service on a complimentary basis. Your fee level is based upon your category which is tied to your annual income level from all sources. See attachment 1 to determine the fee level that will apply to your organisation.

Participating organisations will pay the relevant full assessment fee in year one and a lesser fee in years two and three of the accreditation period.

The fee for the first-year must be paid prior to us conducting the assessment. Second and third year accreditation fees must be paid prior to us accepting and recording your self-assessment. In the final two years of accreditation your self-assessment is not received within 60 days of our notification your organisation’s accreditation will be withdrawn. After that time if you wish to become accredited again a full assessment will be required.


FREE SUPPORT AND CONTACT INFORMATION

We understand that your organisation may require some assistance, guidance or support to successfully apply for accreditation and we are happy to assist wherever possible.

If you need advice or want to ask a question please call our office.

PATHWAYS AUSTRALIA

T: 1300 212 212

W: WWW.PATHWAYSAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

E: [email protected]


ABOUT PATHWAYS AUSTRALIA

Pathways is Australia’s leading provider of management support and advisory services to community service organisations. Established in 2001, we are headquartered in Melbourne however provide our services nationally and work with organisation from the very large such as the Australian Red Cross through to small, volunteer-only organisations.

Our client organisations support their communities in many ways and include those involved in such areas as:

• Aged care• Disability • Children and youth• Sports and recreation• Common interest clubs and societies• Environment• Women’s and men’s services• Health services• Alcohol and substance abuse• Multicultural• Veterans support

In fact we are interested in all organisations that have a ‘social purpose’ and are not-for-profit in nature.

Our range of specialist services is significant and includes:

• Strategic planning• Governance• Organisational reviews and assessments• Human resources management advice and support• Professional development and training• Fundraising and other income generation• Marketing• Financial management


ATTACHMENT 1: READY RECKONER

ANNUAL INCOME CATEGORY SELF-ASSESS.

QUESTION #FEE

YEAR 1FEE

YEAR 2FEE

YEAR 3

Less than $3,999

1 1 Complimentary Complimentary Complimentary

$4,000 - $9,999

2 1 $200 $100 $100

$10,000 - $24,999

3 1 $300 $150 $150

$25,000 – $49,999

4 1 $400 $200 $200

$50,000 - $99,999

5 1 $500 $250 $250

$100,000 – $249,000

6 2 $600 $300 $300

$250,000 – $999,000

7 2 $700 $350 $350

$1,000,000 - $4,999,999

8 2 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000

$5,000,000 and over

9 2 $3,000 $1,500 $1,500

your guide to community organisation governance … · 2019. 5. 10. · an overview of...

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