Gaining an even deeper knowledge in governance

After getting to know Jan, you would struggle to think of anything more she could learn when it comes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.  

Jan is a Yorta Yorta, Waddi Waddi and Ngarrindjeri woman and sits on multiple boards and cultural heritage trusts, including two of these positions by ministerial appointment.  

She took the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Governance funded by ORIC to get a deeper understanding of governance principles, and to further her understanding of risk management. It was taught over multiple blocks spaced out over 5 months

‘Mainly it was to get an insight into the risk management factors and the financial obligations as well, what steps you need to understand when you're on a board,’ she says.

‘And it was really good with this course. We also looked at the emotional intelligence of board members and the sector that we're working with within the operational arm and within the community.

‘And looking at the ways of managing the risks around that, because in our community we’re pretty passionate about issues and matters.’

Jan has a desire for future generations to benefit from her knowledge.  

‘I’m always available for community members, but for me it's about skilling up my family so it's got that ripple effect,’ she says.  

‘You’ve got the skills that you have, and you pass them on to your family. So, I've got a number of young nieces and nephews.

‘They may have all the technology and all the theory but a lot of them haven't got the life experience.’

Jan has a research postgraduate degree, a Master of Public Health, which further developed an understanding of various challenges in communities in regional Victoria.  

A wealth of experience working in organisations connected to vital youth, family and health services has helped too.  

‘I understand all the dynamics that make an organisation thrive and what makes it stall or stifle,’ she says.  

‘I think in Victoria, we're really lucky in a way that we've grown that much in setting up our own Aboriginal organisation standards and meeting the community’s needs and aspirations.’

She now wants to do more at the board level.

‘That's what the whole idea of me being on a board is, to be able to work out how we can help our mob and community and do the best we can with the limited amount of money that we have got,’ she says.  

Jan says the certificate was a vital opportunity for directors to understand regulatory standards better, as well as how best practice governance can benefit the wider community.  

‘It's understanding where they (ORIC) are coming from but also looking at ways where our rule book can not only meet their needs but also meet our community's needs as well,’ she says.

‘I'm looking forward to the day when we have our language put into the rule book and it's not so westernised.  

‘We're getting there.’  

Jan reflected on how great it was to see some instances of governance being in ‘two worlds’, in the form of acknowledging perspectives from Elders.  

‘A lot of the organisations never ever recognised Elders before and now every time you turn a page (of a rule book), it's got something about respecting Elders and knowing their wisdom,’ she says.  

As well as gaining practical learning outcomes from the course, Jan enjoyed sharing perspectives with other directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.  

‘It was a fantastic time to catch up with people from all around Australia who've got the same dilemmas that we may have in our organisation,’ she says.

‘Some really beautiful people who are genuinely wanting to help their mob, and they’d work 24/7 to do that.

‘And people have got different ways of looking at things, like different perspectives on how to resolve and look at solutions and I found that really interesting.'

Jan advised future students of the Certificate IV to do as much as they can to commit their time and effort to the course.  

‘I think people who are looking at attending, if they put in 100% they'll reap the benefits of it,’ she says.  

‘We were lucky that we got facilities where we could do our studies.  

‘The support that we got from ORIC was fantastic.’  

Registrations are now open for the 2025 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Governance.