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Tiếng ViệtThe Inclusive Governance Project is exploring the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in the decision-making of Boards and committees
About Inclusive Governance
Inclusive Governance is about people from diverse backgrounds, including disability, being involved in the Boards and committees of organisations.
The Inclusive Governance Project has listened to the experiences of people involved with Boards. This includes Board members, with and without disability, Executive Officers and Board support people. Understanding these experiences help us to identify the benefits of inclusive governance and what helps people with intellectual disability to have a real voice in the decision-making of community organisations.
Reports and articles
Preliminary Project Report
A report on what the project has done up to July 2024
Research article – Inclusion of people with intellectual disability in the decision-making and governance of disability and community organisations, Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability
Contact Side By Side Advocacy if you would like to get a copy of the PDF
Executive Summary
A summary of the project report
The Findings of the Inclusive Governance Project
Five principles were identified from the findings of our research. Organisations can use these principles as a guide to develop a plan of action that will help them move towards inclusive governance. You can read or watch a video about each principle below.
Overview
The research tells us that Inclusive governance requires a holistic, organisational approach to the inclusion of people with intellectual disability. This means that organisations that have successfully implemented inclusive governance have included people with intellectual disability in many levels and activities of their organisation.
Principle 1
Inclusion of people with intellectual disability in the decision-making and governance of community organisations is valued.
Principle 2
There are clear pathways to Board membership for people with intellectual disability.
Principle 3
Board meetings and activities are accessible, meeting the inclusion needs of people with intellectual disability.
Principle 4
Individualised, skilled support is provided.
Principle 5
There is a commitment to making Inclusive Governance work.
New Podcasts about the Inclusive Governance Project!
The Inclusive Governance Project continues to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in the decision-making and governance of community organisations. To help people understand and move towards inclusive governance, we produced a podcast series. The 4-episode series shares insights, lived experiences, and practical guidance about inclusive governance, featuring people with intellectual disability and others engaged with governance
Episode 1: Introducing the Inclusive Governance Project
Bernadette Curryer and Katrina Sneath introduce the Inclusive Governance Project and share research into the inclusion of people with intellectual disability in decision-making. Themes and principles of inclusive governance are explained.
Episode 2: The 5 Principles of Inclusive Governance
Bernadette Curryer and Katrina Sneath explain the 5 principles of inclusive governance identified through research. Kim Roots, Executive Officer of Side By Side Advocacy, also shares how the organisation works to meet these principles in practice.
Episode 3: Being Involved in Decision-Making
This episode explores how people with intellectual disability can participate in the decision-making of community organisations. Guests with lived experience share their insights. Katrina Sneath discusses what to consider before joining a board, and Shu Hua Chan reflects on her experience as a board member.
Episode 4: What Organisations Can Do
Bernadette Curryer is joined by Michelle Donelly (Board Chair) and Kim Roots (Executive Officer) from Side By Side Advocacy to discuss what organisations can do to become more inclusive. They talk about the Inclusive Governance Action Plan and the changes it has led to in their organisation.
A call to action for organisations
People with intellectual disability can and should be involved in the decision making and governance of your organisation. We challenge you to make it happen!
A call to action for people with intellectual disability
People with intellectual disability can and should be involved in the decision making and governance of community organisations.
Download the Inclusive Governance Action Plan Template
DownloadInformation in Easy Read
This information is written in Easy Read to make it easier to understand.
About the project
This page tells you about the Inclusive Governance Project
Principles in Easy Read
Principles help people understand what they should do
Project Report in Easy Read
A report that tells you what the project was about and what it did.
Resources for organisations
The templates below can be used by organisations to help them include people with intellectual disability in their decision-making and governance.
Meeting Agenda-Easy Read
This document presents a meeting agenda in easy read format.
Reports – Easy Read
This document presents a Board report in easy read format.
Reports – Plain English
This document presents a Board report in plain English.
Financial Report Summary
This document explains and summarises financial reports in plain English.
Meeting preparation form
This document helps a Board member prepare for a Board meeting by recording their thoughts, questions and decisions as they read and discuss each Board report with their support person.
Board Support Person – job description
This document is a guide to the role and skills of a Board Support Person
Inclusive Governance Action Plan
A step-by-step process for organisations to review their organisation in line with the 5 Principles of Inclusive Governance, identifying gaps and planning action to move towards a more inclusive model of governance.