Collective Board expertise

To effectively operate the College, members of the College Board – working together in a respectful and collaborative environment – require skills, experience and expertise that must be aligned to the objectives and purpose of the College, as set out in the RACP Constitution (PDF).

Collectively, these Board skills and expertise should enable the College to successfully develop, implement and monitor the performance of the College strategy. Ideally, the College Board should be structured to have:

• a diversity of backgrounds, expertise and perspectives
• a significant depth of experience, skills and knowledge in critical areas of the College’s activities or in areas which are important to the College’s future development
• a capacity to work strategically for the College as a whole, in a complex and challenging environment
• combined commitment, personal qualities and integrity which mean Directors work together effectively and with other parts of the College
• a clear and shared understanding of good governance and the Board’s role in the College

RACP Strategic Plan 2022-2026

The RACP Strategic Plan 2022-2026 defines where the College wants to be in the future, it sets out the 4 strategic focus areas with underlying priorities to achieve the strategic goals and add value to the membership.

Strategic experience and capacity

Ideally, prospective RACP Directors must demonstrate relevant experience and a capacity to operate strategically in one or more of these areas:

• Education and training — the development, delivery or assessment of education and training
• Policy and advocacy — developing or advocating for public policy, building community relationships and networks in areas relevant to healthcare
• Research — experience in research, research training, research management, research development, the funding or supervision of research in medicine, or the RACP Foundation
• Fellowship matters and College relationships — achievements related to building engagement and relationships with members, the health industry and organisational partners

The position description covering the open Board position provides more details of the essential and desirable skills, qualifications and experience expected from members nominating for appointment as a Board Director.

College structure and governance

The College is a public company limited by guarantee. The College governance documents include the RACP Constitution, Board Charter, Directors Code of Conduct and other relevant By-Laws. As an incorporated body, the College is bound by the Corporations Act, as well as by the common law including the fiduciary duties of Directors and Officers.

All RACP activities are governed by the College Constitution, which is approved by members. Additionally, the RACP is a Charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and must comply with the ACNC legislation, which includes modified Director duties.

The ACNC Act sets the 5 Governance Standards that charities must satisfy at all times to remain registered with the ACNC.  All RACP Directors are classified as Responsible Persons under the ACNC legislation.

The ACNC Governance Standard 5 – Duties of Responsible Persons requires all RACP Directors to:

1. act with reasonable care and diligence
2. act honestly and fairly in the best interests of the charity and for its charitable purposes
3. not misuse their position or information they gain as a Responsible Person
4. disclose conflicts of interest
5. ensure that the financial affairs of the charity are managed responsibly
6. not allow the charity to operate while it is insolvent