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Box 11.5.10 Governance trainingWunan Foundation has its own management committee handbook which sets outclear protocols to facilitate decision-making. Before each meeting, committee membersparticipate in a thorough training session with the CEO or a special advisor to ensurefamiliarity with the issues. Each training session also involves the use of the WunanGame about a specific governance issue. This board game was developed as an inhousepractical training tool for board members.Yorganop Child Care Aboriginal Corporation requires all its board members toundertake governance training as part of their responsibilities.Murrin Bridge Advance Aboriginal Corporation insists that all of its board membersundertake the Indigenous Governance Program at the local TAFE.Goldfields Land and Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation provides a kit ofinformation to all newly elected board members explaining standing orders, votingprocedures and their public obligations.Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation uses a governance training program as akey part of the development of leaders within the organisation.More information on these and other successful Indigenous organisations can be found on theReconciliation Australia website at: www.reconciliation.org.au/igawardsSource: IGA 2006.Drawing on the Indigenous Governance Awards examples and research by theIndigenous Community Governance Project, some common characteristics ofsuccessful Indigenous governing institutions can be identified, many of which haveclose links with other determinants of good governance:• clearly articulated vision, values, and goals, and the structures, processes andprograms to achieve them• legitimacy and authority of those with decision-making power (also seediscussion of ‘leadership’ below)• accountability of those in positions of responsibility• stable institutional arrangements and effective administrative systems• sound dispute resolution processes that provide fair and effective means ofresolving disputes• adequate capacity (including resources) to deliver core business (also seediscussions of ‘capacity building’ and ‘resources’ below).11.58 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007