Board Director

SuniTAFE is a publicly‐owned provider of vocational education in north-west Victoria and is established under the Victorian Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (the Act).

The SuniTAFE Board currently consists of ten members who work cohesively together to fulfill the Act's requirements of ensuring that TAFEs facilitate student learning, knowledge acquisition, skills for employment and vocational education and training; through excellent teaching, innovation and educational leadership that delivers quality outcomes.

TAFEs must operate efficiently and sustainably, endeavouring to maximise their contribution to Victoria's economy and the wellbeing of the State's communities and industries.

Each TAFE institute is governed by its own constitution and its own governing board.

SuniTAFE is one of the largest providers of vocational education and training in north-west Victoria. On a state-wide scale SuniTAFE is a small TAFE with a large reach.

SuniTAFE is a vibrant educational community, providing vocational education and training for the people of Loddon Mallee North and beyond with students traveling from both across Victoria and interstate to study in courses where SuniTAFE has a demonstrated level of expertise.

As a Board Director your key responsibilities will include:

• Commit the time required to fully exercise the duties required of the position (approx. 10-12 hours per month to prepare for and attend board and committee meetings).
• The time commitments are set out as follows
  • Attend, as a minimum, 75 percent of board meetings (board meetings are usually scheduled monthly, and meetings may be part or full days and may be conducted during business hours);
  • Participate on sub-committees of the board, and serve on one or more ad-hoc committees as necessary. The chairperson will ask that directors serve on a number of sub-committees (including, but not limited to, Audit Committee, Governance, Risk and Compliance Committee, Industry and Community Engagement Committee, and Education and Student Experience Committee. Sub-committees, depending on the category of sub-committee, may meet every month, every two months or quarterly;
  • review agenda items and board papers in anticipation of an upcoming board/sub-committee meeting;
  • review the most recent board/sub-committee meeting minutes to confirm what was discussed and agreed;
  • attend events where the Institute requires representation. Board directors should also be prepared to attend board strategy days and other nominated events which may be part of the board’s calendar. This expectation applies to all board directors regardless of their residential location.
  • Develop a full understanding of the organisation’s finances, scope of operations, strategic context and legal framework.
  • Adhere to the relevant obligations and duties set out in the Victorian Public Sector Commission’s (VPSC) Directors’ Code of Conduct as well as bring any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest or conflicts of duty to the attention of the board Chair.
  • Undertake any training and development required in order to fully discharge their responsibilities.

This is a paid appointment for up to three years. Directors are reimbursed for all travel requirements and other expenses properly incurred in attending official meetings.

As required by the Act, appointed directors must have knowledge of, or experience in at least one of the following areas:

• management;
• finance;
• commerce or business;
• law;
• corporate governance;
• vocational education and training;
• adult, community and further education;
• any industry in which training is provided at the TAFE;
• higher education;

In addition to the mandatory skills outlined above, aptitude in the following areas will be considered highly desirable:

• strategic asset management;
• project management;
• information technology;
• community and stakeholder engagement;
• public sector governance;
• occupational health and safety;
• strategic thinking;
• risk management;
• stakeholder engagement; and
• leadership.

Being local to the north west Victoria area is not mandatory, but is an asset.

To apply, upload your cover letter, resume and completed selection criteria via Get On Board; or, visit the SuniTAFE application portal at www.sunitafe.edu.au/recruitment to upload these documents. A Selection criteria template is available at the link here.

Applications close: 18 June 2023