Building a policy manual

The chair’s role is crucial in keeping the organisational ship on an even keel and moving steadily towards its destination.

This involves ensuring the organisation’s governance is up to par, having a strategic eye to the future as well as a keen eye on the present, and averting crises the moment they threaten to emerge. The chair is responsible for running calm and organised board meetings, and for overseeing a positive and inclusive board culture.

Often, a chair will inherit an organisation that has grown under the board’s hardworking leadership and now requires solid policies to protect the organisation in its next phase. Alternatively, you may find yourself as the foundation chair of an all-new board. In either case, you and your board will require a suite of policies as the basis of good governance.

If your organisation is structured as an incorporated association, you must have a constitution. Otherwise, the need for policies is not legislated, unless your organisation works with children, and then you are required to have a child safety policy that reflects your state’s Child Safe Standards.

The following list of policies serves as the starting point of good governance. As your organisation grows and hires staff (or more staff), you will need to scale up your policy manual, so it remains fit for purpose.