Committees
Finance and Audit
Chair:
Naomi Walsh
Committee:
Faith Valencia-Forrester, Julie Stevens, Michael O’Connor
Purpose
The Finance and Audit Committee supports WIL Australia to be a sustainable organisation with robust financial systems and contributes to risk management. The Committee manages internal financial controls, assists and advises the Board on financial matters and risk through sound corporate practices, effective oversight mechanisms and timely financial reporting.
Functions
1. Financial Compliance
- Monitor appropriate accounting and financial reporting processes
- Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory financial obligations
2. Financial Management and Performance
- Monitor financial performance against approved budgets
- Monitor cash flow position and recommend actions to the Board
- Oversee preparation of financial reports for the Board
- Coordinate Chapter funding and strategic funding initiatives
3. Risk Management
- Contribute to the Risk Registry for financial and operational risks
4. Audit
- Recommend appointment of external auditor or financial reviewer
- Facilitate independent external audit process
- Address issues arising from audit process
Membership
- Not less than three members, appointed by the Board
- At least one member must be a Board Director (Constitution Rule 36.4)
- Chair appointed by the Board from amongst elected Directors
- Members should be financially literate
- At least one member with finance or accounting experience
- Company Secretary attends in advisory capacity
Meetings
- Minimum 4 times per year
- In-person and/or virtually
Reporting
- Written report to each Board meeting
Review
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually.
Authority
Established under Constitution Rule 36.1. The Committee exercises delegated powers subject to the control and regulation of the Board (Rule 36.2).
Conference and Awards
Co-Chairs:
Daryl McMahon, Natalie Milic
Committee:
Purpose
The Conference and Awards committee is responsible for:
- Planning and administering the biennial WIL Australia conference and awards processes through the working parties.
- Providing advice to the WIL Australia Board on all matters relating to the WIL Australia Conference and Awards;
- Coordinating the promotion of the WIL Australia Conference and awards;
- Coordinating the process and selection of recipients of WIL Australia Awards;
- Promoting the WIL Australia Conference and Awards to WIL Australia member institutions;
- Reporting on the Conference and Awards outcomes and relevant recommendations;
- Evaluating and refining the process for administering the WIL Australia Conference and Awards.
Functions
To fulfil this purpose, the committee will:
- Develop conference and awards proposals and recommend strategies to the WIL Australia Board for ratification;
- Plan and coordinate the WIL Australia conference and suite of Awards, grants and related activities;
- Act in the interests of the WIL Australia membership generally;
- Provide a mechanism to build capacity and ensure sustainability amongst WIL Australia members;
- Maintain contact with Finance, Audit and Risk Committee around funds for Conference, Awards and Administrative support; Professional Learning Committee – Case Studies Working Party.
- Seek representatives from each chapter committee to contribute to the working parties.
Membership
Members of the WIL Australia Board and not less than three members drawn from the Board, State Chapter Committees or general WIL Australia members.
Frequency of Meetings
Monthly meetings or more as required during peak times.
RESEARCH & IMPACT
Co-Chairs:
Faith Valencia-Forrester, Hannes Herrmann
Committee:
Denise Jackson, Sophia Xenos, Felicity Blackstock, Emilio Kardaris, Ali Reza Alai, Julie Stevens, Anita Dewi, Michael O’Connor, Roula Kyriacou, Karim Yacoub, Lloyd Dolan, Meena Jha
GOS working party:
Faith Valencia-Forrester, Felicity Blackstock, Roula Kyriacou
RESEARCH WORKING PARTY:
Karim Yacoub, Sophia Xenos
Purpose
The purpose of the committee is to assist the Board by providing advice on achieving the research and scholarship (SoTL) objectives outlined in WIL Australia’s Strategic Plan to enhance WIL throughout Australia.
Functions
- Identify and advance research in WIL priority areas through scholarly practice.
- Build the capacity of members including early career researchers and higher degree research students to undertake research into WIL.
- Endorse and support WIL research proposals and projects.
- Work closely with the Advocacy and Engagement, and Professional Learning committees to support the dissemination of findings and recommendations from WIL research and projects to the sector via appropriate channels such as the website and webinars/events.
- Provide advice in relation to current issues, challenges and trends impacting on WIL research and impact in Australia.
- Establish mechanisms to assist in identifying areas of research priority and facilitate collaborative discussions to support WIL research priorities.
- Administer the research grants scheme and organise research symposiums and other research events.
- Oversee the collection, storage and ethical use of GOS data.
- Act in the interests of WIL Australia’s membership.
- Build members’ capacity for WIL Australia’s sustainability.
Membership
Members of the Board and not less than three members drawn from the Board and/or State Chapter Committees.
Frequency of Meetings
A minimum of 5 per year.
Professional Learning
Co-Chairs:
Heather Pate, Jennifer Ruskin
Committee:
Michelle Eady, David Eckstein, Nicola Fish, Faith Valencia-Forrester, Holly Capocchiano, Bita Zaferanloo, Mahesh Kayastha, Julia Caldicott, Ashleigh Cassilles, Sara Donnelly, Laura Carmody, Sharni Knight
Case Studies Working Party:
Julia Caldicott (Chair), Chris Bilsland, Holly Capocchiano, Michelle Eady, Nicola Fish
Events Working Party
Resources Working Party
Purpose
The Professional Learning Committee facilitates professional development opportunities and resources for university staff, students and industry/community partners to facilitate practice sharing, networking and upskilling to achieve WIL Australia’s objective of enhancing quality WIL.
Functions
- Support professional learning opportunities to broaden and extend expertise;
- Deliver professional learning online;
- Source and share quality resources for audiences including practitioners, students and workplace partners;
- Share quality, innovative WIL practice illustrating diverse disciplines, models and methods;
- Support the dissemination of findings from research and projects to the sector;
- Build capacity and ensure sustainability amongst WIL Australia members;
- Run selection panel and coordinate the selection of recipients of the WIL Australia Case Study award biennially.
Membership
Committee co-chairs are Board members; Subcommittee chairs and other may sit on WIL Australia State Chapters or be members of any WIL Australia institution by invitation.
Frequency of Meetings
Committee meets at least once every two months; sub-committees meet monthly or as needed.
Engagement and Advocacy
Co-chairs:
Nicola Fish, Caroline Rueckert
Committee:
Purpose
The Engagement and Advocacy Subcommittee exists to support the Board in the development and delivery of a coherent, evidence-informed, and sustainable advocacy and engagement approach that strengthens Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in Australia.
The Subcommittee operates under the strategic direction of the Board. Advocacy priorities, policy positions, and major engagement initiatives are endorsed by the Board.
Functions
The Engagement and Advocacy Subcommittee is responsible for:
- Leading the development of advocacy and engagement proposals by identifying emerging issues, synthesising evidence from practice and policy, and scoping advocacy priorities for Board consideration and endorsement, ensuring proposed priorities reflect member needs and the breadth of the WIL ecosystem.
- Designing and delivering member engagement activities that create structured opportunities for consultation, dialogue, and collaboration, ensuring member perspectives and expertise inform WIL Australia’s advocacy agenda.
- Supporting Board-led advocacy by coordinating stakeholder engagement activity and preparing advice, briefings, and materials to enable effective engagement with government, industry, accreditation bodies, and community organisations.
- Ensuring alignment between engagement and advocacy by translating insights from members into clear recommendations and proposed advocacy positions for Board approval.
- Supporting the sustainability and impact of advocacy through forward planning, prioritisation, and sequencing of engagement and advocacy activities in line with organisational capacity and strategic priorities.
Membership
Member of WIL Australia Board and not less than three members drawn from the Board and/or Chapter Committees and/or general membership.
Frequency of Meetings
Minimum of six per year.
Student Scholarships
Chair:
David Reid
Committe:
Sarah-Jane Gregory, Heather Pate, Leanne Baker
Purpose
The Scholarship committee is responsible for administering the annual WIL Australia student scholarships and processes.
- Provide advice to the WIL Australia Board on all matters relating to WIL Australia Scholarships.
- Coordinate the administration of the WIL Australia Student Scholarships annually.
- Coordinate the selection of recipients of WIL Australia Student Scholarships annually.
- Consult with the WIL Australia Board on criteria for selecting scholarship winners.
- Promote the WIL Australia Student Scholarships to WIL Australia member institutions.
- Report on the scholarships outcomes and suggest relevant recommendations.
- Evaluate and refine the process for administering the WIL Australia Student Scholarships for consideration annually.
Committee members will contact scholarship recipients before and after completion of placement.
Functions
To fulfil this purpose, the committee will:
- Provide advice to the WIL Australia board on the administration and review of the WIL Australia student scholarship.
- Develop proposals and recommend strategies to the WIL Australia Board for ratification.
- Act in the interests of the WIL Australia membership generally.
- Provide a mechanism to build capacity and ensure sustainability amongst WIL Australia members.
- Maintain contact with Finance Committee around funds for Scholarships and Administrative support.
- Pre and post placement discussions with successful recipients.
Membership
Members – Chair from the WIL Australia Board and not less than three members drawn from the Board and/or State Chapter Committees.
Meetings
A minimum of four meetings per year.
As required during annual scholarship process.
Governance
Chair:
Hannes Herrmann
Committee Members:
Faith Valencia-Forrester, Naomi Walsh, Michael O’Connor, Caroline Rueckert, Natalie Millic, Julie Stevens
Purpose
The Governance Committee ensures effective governance practices, compliance with relevant laws and the Constitution, and the overall integrity of WIL Australia’s mission and values, including assessment of risk, and the company’s risk appetite in collaboration with Board and other committees. The Committee assists and advises the Board on governance, compliance, constitutional matters, and organisational integrity.
Functions
1. Governance Oversight
- Review governance arrangements to ensure legal and regulatory compliance
- Ensure governance structure aligns with best practices
- Recommend updates to bylaws and governance policies
2. Constitutional Compliance
- Monitor compliance with the Constitution
- Advise on constitutional amendments
- Ensure alignment between Board and Chapter governance
3. Board Development
- Identify Director skills gaps
- Maintain Board skills matrix
- Develop orientation programs for new Directors
- Oversee succession planning
4. Ethics and Conduct
- Maintain code of conduct for Directors and stakeholders
- Oversee conflict of interest policies and register
- Address breaches through appropriate channels
5. Policy Oversight
- Maintain policy review schedule
- Oversee development and approval of organisational policies
- Assess governance implications of strategic initiatives
6. Governance and Risk
- Assess and manage governance, legal and ethical risks
- Develop contingency plans for governance challenges
- Help the Board assess and manage risks to operations and strategic goals
- Refer finance-related risks to the Finance and Audit Committee
- Consulting with other committees on governance implications for their activities
- Develop contingency plans for governance issues
- Data, privacy and confidentiality issues
- Review Risk Appetite Register annually capturing practice across all committees
7. IT and Cyber Security
- Oversee effectiveness and security of IT systems
- Advise Board on digital infrastructure risks and opportunities
Membership
- Not less than three members, appointed by the Board
- At least one member must be a Board Director (Constitution Rule 36.4)
- Members may be drawn from the Board and/or Chapter Committees
- Chair appointed by the Board
- Company Secretary attends in advisory capacity
Frequency of Meetings
- Minimum 4 times per year
- In-person and/or virtually
Reporting
- Written report to each Board meeting
- Annual governance report to the Board
Review
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually.
Authority
Established under Constitution Rule 36.1. The Committee exercises delegated powers subject to the control and regulation of the Board (Rule 36.2).