Flat Out currently has one vacancy on our seven-member Board. We are ideally looking for a woman, trans or gender diverse person with lived experience of criminalisation or imprisonment, or of supporting someone experiencing criminalisation or imprisonment (family member, kin).

We are also looking for someone for the role of Treasurer. This person will preferably have some experience in financial management, accounting or bookkeeping.

Honorarium available

The position is voluntary, however an honorarium - currently $200 per meeting - and travel or other expenses are available to First Nations people, those with lived/living experience of criminalisation and imprisonment, and to other whose financial circumstances would otherwise be a barrier to joining the Board.

Role of the Board

The Flat Out Board oversees the governance, strategic direction, sustainability, and reputation of Flat Out including:

• Setting the overall strategic direction of the organisation.
• Ensuring that the legal and financial requirements of the organisation are met.
• Ensuring a robust risk management system is in place to manage and mitigate risk.
• Holding accountability for organisational activities and decisions.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation including employment awards.

Board members are required to:

• Attend at least four out of six bi-monthly Board meetings each year.

(Board meetings are held on the last Thursday of every second month. In 2024 meetings are currently hybrid – online and in person at the Flat Out office in the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre at 210 Lonsdale St Melbourne.)

• Participate in strategic or task-specific subcommittees, activities and training, as possible.
• Abide by the Rules (Constitution) of Flat Out and the Flat Out Code of Conduct -including declaring any potential or actual conflicts of interest.

Flat Out Board members aspire and commit to:

• A decolonising, abolitionist, intersectional feminist framework and collective decision-making.
• Working cooperatively as part of a diverse team, respecting the rights and contributions of all Board members, sharing information and consulting each other and with individuals and groups within the organisation.
• Being accountable to each other, the organisation and our community - especially the women, trans and gender diverse people we support.

Role of the Treasurer

In addition to the above, the Treasurer role includes:

• Chair bi-monthly meetings of the Finance, Audit and Risk subcommittee to review and discuss financial reports.
• Report to bi-monthly Board meetings on financial reports and matters arising.
• Identify and bring to the attention of the Board any areas of financial risk.
• Oversee the development of annual budgets by the EO and Finance contractor.
• Support and oversee the annual audit and present audit reports to the membership at Annual General Meetings.

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated commitment to prison abolition, intersectional feminism and decolonisation.
2. Lived or other expertise and experience in criminalisation and incarceration of women, trans and gender diverse people.
3. Governance/Board experience.
4. Experience in community organisations, community organising or community development.
5. Relevant skills in policy development, fundraising, event management, stakeholder management or communications.
6. (for Treasurer applications) Qualifications and/or experience in accounting, book-keeping or financial management.

Feel free to contact Karen Fletcher, Executive Officer at [email protected] using the subject line: Flat Out Board Member/Treasurer (Voluntary) enquiry via EthicalJobs if you need any information or want to discuss making an application.