Building capacity of governing bodies to deal with conflict and misconduct

Effective strategies to build the capacity of governing bodies to deal with conflict and misconduct include:

• delivering customised training in dispute mediation and negotiation
• ensuring the governing body carries out an annual self-evaluation of its own governance performance, and its ability to work and make decisions as a group
• providing regular briefings and progress reports on issues under dispute
• developing specific policies setting out expectations for codes of conduct, conflicts of interest, governing roles and responsibilities, and guidelines for resolving internal disputes and complaints
• training in how to run productive meetings and make consensus decisions
• development of protocols and procedures for grievances and appeals
• using the strategic plan, succession planning and future vision as guides for more consistent decision making, to reduce factionalism and conflict
• drawing on the cultural input and advice of the wider peer groups of leaders in a nation or community
• development of governance charters and manuals laying out agreed values, rules and commitments.

If you are an incorporated organisation registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) you can also ask the registrar to intervene to resolve disputes.