How to effectively apply governance and policy in my organisation?
1. Understand the Governance Framework
Familiarize yourself with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards (e.g., ISO standards, WHS, NDIS if you're in care services).
Identify the levels of governance you need: corporate, clinical (if applicable), IT, financial, etc.
Clarify the role of your board, leadership team, and operational staff.
2. Define Clear Policies and Procedures
Develop policies that reflect your values, risk appetite, and strategic goals.
Ensure policies are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Create easy-to-follow procedures that operationalise each policy.
3. Assign Roles and Responsibilities
Clarify who is responsible for what.
Set up governance committees or steering groups as needed (e.g., risk management, ethics, clinical governance).
Empower staff to report concerns or gaps without fear.
4. Communicate and Train
Roll out policies through training sessions, onboarding programs, and ongoing staff meetings.
Use plain language to make policies accessible.
Ensure staff understand why the policies exist and how they apply in practice.
5. Implement and Monitor
Introduce tools or systems to track compliance (checklists, audits, software dashboards).
Use KPIs and compliance reports to measure success.
Hold regular governance meetings to review progress.
6. Review and Update Regularly
Set a review cycle (e.g., every 12 or 24 months) for all policies.
Adjust policies in response to internal feedback, incidents, or changes in regulations.
Use reviews as an opportunity to engage staff and improve processes.
7. Foster a Culture of Accountability and Transparency
Lead by example—show that leadership takes governance seriously.
Encourage feedback, open discussions, and continuous improvement.
Celebrate good compliance and use learning from failures to improve systems.
