The Australian Province of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (MSC Sisters) is a small organisation comprising 21 Australian sisters, civilly incorporated in Australian but part of a wider network committed to a shared mission internationally. Up until the early 1990s, the MSC Sisters operated a number of institutional ministries in health and aged care and collaborated with others in education and pastoral ministries. Today MSC Sisters do not own or operate any institutions but a number of MSC Sisters remain engaged in pastoral care, spiritual accompaniment, parish support, education and working collaboratively with other organisations on issues and charitable programs that advance social justice. Other sisters are receiving home care packages or are in residential aged care, after a lifetime of active, public, charitable ministry. As a religious community, the MSC Sisters hold the care, safety and well-being of children and people at risk, including the homeless and refugees, as a central and fundamental responsibility of their commitment and mission. With the Sisters’ ageing, the commitment to continuing Mission has become a pressing need. Thus, two Board Directors are now required to join the Board, to bring new skills to ensure the continuance of the sisters’ mission in a viable and vibrant manner, providing for the well-being of the Sisters and the ongoing funding of a range of charitable community grants.

Two vacancies exist for suitably qualified individuals with a range of the following priority knowledge, skills and experience:

• Past experience on public, private or community Boards;
• Trusts/funds/investment/asset management experience;
• High level conceptual and strategic thinking skills; financial literacy, compliance with the ACNC;
• Ability to translate financial information into common language terms;
• An understanding of the NFP, human/community services sector (ideally);
• Ability to work collaboratively with other Directors while maintaining independent thought and preparedness to challenge others’ thinking;
• Governance education (e.g. AICD course)

As a faith-based organisation candidates will require a deep understanding of, and a shared commitment to, articulating the MSC Sisters’ Mission, including their commitment to responding to social injustice.

For further information about this position and the application process, go to the Searchlight Group website and download some additional information: www.searchlightgroup.com.au/careers.

For a confidential discussion contact Michael Holdway, Searchlight Group on (03) 9600 1137.