Board Secretariat

**About The Company**

Playgroup NSW, the peak body representing playgroups across NSW, is a not-for-profit organisation that has supported families and strengthened local communities for over 50 years. **Our Purpose **is to lead play-based programs and services for NSW families with children birth to school age, offering development, shared experiences, and family support, that results in active citizens and inclusive communities. **Our Vision **is to positively impact every NSW child, their family and community in the first 2,000 days of life.

**Playgroup organisations are in all states and territories, leading play-based programs and services nationally. Together we support and deliver over 200,000 Playgroup sessions a year**, through a range of strengths-based programs, including but not limited to: Universal community volunteer led programs; Targeted early intervention and preventative programs specifically for children and families experiencing vulnerabilities and for children with a disability and their carers; Programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse families; Perinatal mental and parent/child mental health programs, and Intergenerational programs for older Australians.

The organisation is on a positive growth and impact path, with this position performing an important role in the background to ensure our governance and related compliance is of the highest standards.

At Playgroup NSW our people are at the heart of what we do. We pride ourselves on our inclusive and engaged organisational culture. We are driven by our values, demonstrate them in our work and in our relationships and encourage them across our membership and in all our activities.

**Our Values** are to:

- Be child centric_: Children are at the heart of our work.
- Lead change_: Seek and encourage learning, innovation, and greater positive impact.
- Act with integrity:_ Be honest, accountable and show respect.
- Work smart, play often:_ Be goal focused, mindful of people's wellbeing and enjoy work.

**About The Role**

The Board Secretariat provides general support and administration services to the Board and its various Committees including but not limited to: minute taking, collation and distribution of meeting papers, maintaining minute books and corporate records, assisting the Chair, Company Secretary, and Board members in fulfilling their duties under the Constitution and relevant legislation, supporting the Chief Executive Officer with Board and Committee related matters, preparing an annual Board Calendar and Agenda Plan, maintaining corporate registers, and providing general governance guidance.

The role requires a level of flexibility, agility to changing circumstances, and the ability to work within tight timeframes.

The Board and its Committees currently meet across most months of the year, including bi-monthly Board meetings and a number of standing Committee meetings including:

- Board Meetings (currently 6 meetings per annum)
- Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Meetings
- Board and Leadership Effectiveness Committee Meetings
- Annual General Meeting

You will be expected to attend all these meetings (and other extraordinary meetings as required), which are held during business hours, virtually or in person as required and typically the role will require a commitment of up to 30 hrs per month pro rata across the year based on meeting schedules and workflow requirements.

**Key Responsibilities Include**
- Board and Committee Meeting attendance and minute taking
- Ensure meetings are properly called and organised, agendas and papers received, reviewed, prepared and distributed, and that minutes are accurately recorded and filed according to legislative and organisational requirements.
- Manage Board Member/Meeting correspondence and act as liaison between the Board and Management in relation to requests and actions.
- Liaise with Executive Support Officer, CEO and Chair regarding meeting logistics, and other items as appropriate.
- Coordinate governance processes for Board and Committee appointments.
- Undertake a range of actions to support good governance and provide information/ guidance/support to the Board and Committees on procedure and practice.
- Maintain confidential/securely held records and consistently demonstrate behaviours that reinforce our core values.

**About You**
- Demonstrated experience in a high-level executive support/secretariat role (at Board Level) including the ability to draft, review and vet correspondence and briefings in an accurate and timely manner with a high level of attention to detail.
- High-level verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal and facilitation skills.
- Ability to work independently and demonstrated ability to respond, adapt and cope with changing priorities and demands while meeting deadlines.
- Ability to manage conflict, maintain information confidentially with a high level of discretion.
- Strength