“There has been much written in recent inquiries which sheds light on good and poor governance. As identified in this review’s terms of reference, contemporary civil governance principles such as integrity, accountability and transparency, risk management, culture and ethics, consultation, inclusiveness and the participation and genuine responsibility of men and women are germane to this discussion”. (The Light from the Southern Cross).

Ballarat’s Diocesan Finance Council, the Committee of Management of the Catholic Development Fund, and the Board of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Foundation are seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified people (women and men) to join the advisory council, the advisory committee as well as the Foundation’s Board.  We are seeking persons from across the Diocese who have experience in one or more of the following areas: Corporate Governance; Finance, Banking; Legal; and Philanthropy.  Successful candidates will demonstrate a genuine commitment to the ethos and values of the Catholic Church, and possess personal qualities of integrity, collaborative approach, sound judgement, and excellent communication skills.

These roles are appointed on a voluntary role basis and meetings for each of these bodies are held quarterly in Ballarat (March, June, September and November/December) for generally up to two hours over a light lunch.  Successful candidates will need to provide current Working With Children’s Check and Police Check.  The purpose of each of the respective bodies is:

Diocesan Finance Council

The diocesan finance council exists to assist the Bishop in his role as steward and administrator of the temporal goods of the diocese.  Its goal is to ensure that the stewardship and administration is in keeping with the spirit of the gospel, the teaching of the church and the provisions of canon and civil law.

Committee of Management of the Catholic Development Fund

The Committee is responsible for the prudent management of the CDF in accordance with its Charter for the furtherance of the objects of the Fund, namely to maximise the use of resources within the Catholic community in order to provide facilities to invest funds, offer loans for capital and other projects, and provide the means of promoting the pastoral, financial and educational needs of the Ballarat Diocese.

Catholic Diocese of Ballarat Foundation Board

The purpose of the Foundation (which is a registered charity with the ACNC) is to manage and administer the Ballarat Catholic Bishop’s Charitable Fund and to receive, manage and administer non-deductible Gifts received by the Foundation for its objects, including to financially assist the Diocese in its mission to grow Christ’s kingdom here on earth; to financially assist the charitable works of the Diocese; and to provide for relief, support and comfort of those suffering from disadvantage within the Diocese.

For further enquiries and/or a confidential discussion, please contact
Andrew Jirik, Diocesan Business Manager, ph. 5337 7126