Types of governance models

Welcome to Tips from the Toolkit, where we share insights from the Indigenous Governance Toolkit to support your governance journey.???

This edition explores types of governance models you may want to consider when building or rebuilding your governance.?

What is a governance model?

A governance model is a framework used by organisations, communities and nations to create order in their group. It ties together the rules, relationships, systems and processes that influence how authority is organised. There are many types of governance models.?

The governance models of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups are unique. They’re based on:?

• interconnected layers of leadership?

• groups of people?

• land-ownership rights and interests.?

Different governance models have different arrangements, depending on what suits your group. This includes whether your group decides to legally incorporate, or to remain informal and flexible. If your group?decides to incorporate?there are different structures you can choose from. The structure you select might influence which governance model is most appropriate for your group.?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples show considerable innovation with contemporary governance arrangements that achieve their aspirations and goals.?

These models include:?

• informal, unincorporated collective groups of action in a single community?
• small, localised groups who incorporate under state or national legislation – for example,?Purple House?

• voluntary coalitions of incorporated organisations?

• centralised hub and spokes models – these have a large geographic coverage with locally based representation – for example,?Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation?

• incorporated regional or territory-wide peak organisations – for example,?Desart?or?Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory?

• hybrid arrangements that include elements of all the above.?

Some groups adopt a single self-contained governance model. Others explore wider connections and economies of scale using?networked governance. This makes it possible to use governance models that transfer power to the local level or interconnected governance models that draw on elements from different models.?

These models provide different ways of working across a variety of group interests, communities, geographic regions and organisations. For example, each model offers different ways of developing:?

• community representation – for example, community-level decision-making?

• service functions – how their services are delivered to the community?

• business relationships – such as with partners, government, or other community organisations.

In our next edition of Tips from the Toolkit, we’ll explore things to consider when choosing the right governance model to suit your group’s purpose. For more governance insight, visit our Indigenous Governance Toolkit today.?