All CMT and SLSC members need solid guidelines from which to work to ensure continuity, consistency and easier decision-making. Effective governance protects the rights of SLSC members and assists the continued success and growth of your SLSC. The following tiered system of documents outlines the directives protecting members and guides effective governance and decisive change.
- The Constitution
- Regulations or By Laws
- SLSC policy statements
- SLSC guidelines
- SLSC standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Governance is the system by which your organisation operates. It is about how your organisation can better manage its resources to good effect for both members and stakeholders. It allows an SLSC to provide overall direction to the organisation, controlling the executive actions of club management (even when they are volunteers) and satisfying legitimate expectations (of members) of accountability and regulation. Governance does not concern day-to-day operations of the organisation; it involves dealing with policy, strategy and direction. It is essentially a role of overall guidance, direction and supervision of an organisation.
SLSC governance concerns three key issues:
- How an SLSC develops strategic goals and future direction
- How the SLSC Board of Directors (SLSC Board) monitors the performance of the SLSC to ensure it achieves these strategic goals
- Ensuring that the SLSC Board acts in the best interests of the SLS members.
- Effective Governance
- Effective SLSC governance requires leadership, integrity and sound judgment and will ensure more effective decision-making. The SLSC Board demonstrates transparency, accountability and responsibility in the activities undertaken and resources expended. SLSC committee management processes must be approached strategically by the SLSC Board to plan for the SLSC’s long-term future. A balanced and representative SLSC Board should facilitate smooth member transitions, coordinate external relations and implement appropriate accountability procedures.
- Ineffective Governance
- Ineffective governance practices impact the SLSC where they are present and undermine confidence in the broader Surf Life Saving movement. Poor governance has various causes, including office-bearer inexperience, conflicts of interest, failure to manage risk, inadequate or inappropriate financial controls and generally poor internal business systems and reporting.