Yappera’s board

Yappera Children’s Service Co-Operative is governed by a board of seven Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander directors. These directors are elected by Yappera’s membership during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and serve a two-year term. Upon election, each new director receives a comprehensive induction pack that formally outlines the expectations and responsibilities of their role.

The board meets every six weeks, with additional meetings scheduled as needed – this meeting schedule has proven effective for the board. Yappera’s chairperson also remains actively involved in the organisation, ensuring directors are fully aware of their duties from the outset of each meeting. Meetings are conducted in a manner that values all perspectives, and each director’s opinion is heard and respected.

Many board members have been deeply connected to Yappera in different capacities throughout the organisation’s history – including as parents, previous staff members, grandparents and community members.

Yappera ensures board members bring a diverse range of skills across the health and education sectors, as well as in finance and management operations. The organisation also prioritises gender balance among board members. Historically, Yappera’s board has had a higher proportion of women representation compared to men due to the nature of being an Aboriginal organisation working in the early childhood setting. More recently, however, there has been an increase in male participation on the board. This diversity enhances the board’s capacity by incorporating a variety of perspectives and specialised expertise.