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Board Director

Position Description

Established in 1996 to promote the health benefits of humour, the Humour Foundation has been bringing laughter where it is unexpected, yet most needed, for over 25 years.

A national charity, The Humour Foundation now has a presence in every Australian state and territory and supports more than 290,000 Australians each year. Our highly skilled team of performers enhance patient experience and improve health outcomes through insightful connection, creative play and joyful humour. Working in close partnership with medical and healthcare professionals, the Clown Doctors and Laughter Care programs help improve the quality of life for children, carers and staff in hospitals, and older Australians, carers and staff in residential aged care facilities.   

Headquartered in Sydney, The Humour Foundation has staff and performers located across Australia. Board members, located in Sydney and Melbourne, are non-executive directors of The Humour Foundation and have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that the organisation effective in delivering against its purpose and vision. This includes providing time, energy, expertise and insight to the organisation via Board meetings and fundraising efforts.

About the role

The Director is a member of the Board. The Board is responsible for the overall governance, management and strategic direction of The Humour Foundation. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the organisation fulfils its purpose and objectives and meets legal and moral responsibilities and requirements consistent with Australian corporate governance frameworks. This responsibility is on behalf of the organisation’s members and other stakeholders.

This includes establishing strategies to guide, monitor and control the organisation’s activities, ensuring resources available to achieve the strategy and oversee their use, monitoring the organisation’s performance, overseeing processes to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and overseeing the risk management framework that supports informed decision-making by the organisation.

Candidates for appointment will demonstrate that they possess qualifications or extensive experience to meet the requirements of a Board Director. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate commercial acumen and expertise in contemporary marketing, branding and communications as an area of strategic focus for The Humour Foundation. While not essential, applicants who can also demonstrate experience and/or knowledge in one or both of the following will be highly regarded:

• aged care – senior executive experience, with a deep understanding of the policy framework and operating context for delivery of aged care services; and/or 
• arts – senior executive or governance experience with a national arts organisation.

This role is voluntary.

Key responsibilities

Board Directors have legal responsibilities under common law and statute including duties to:

• Act honestly and in good faith;
• Perform competently by exercising care, skill and diligence in making decisions;
• Act in the best interests of The Humour Foundation; and
• Declare any conflict of interest, actual or perceived.

Individually, a Board Director must:

• Be diligent, attend Board meetings and devote sufficient time to preparation for Board meetings to allow full and appropriate participation in the Board’s deliberations;
• Respect the confidentiality of information and not disclose to any other person confidential information other than as agreed by the Board or as required by law;
• Keep abreast of The Humour Foundation’s activities and be prepared to offer practical and philosophical suggestions and advice;
• Proactively help position The Humour Foundation in the community and not do anything that in any way denigrates the organisation or harms its public image; and
• Act as a role model, change agent and professional exemplar in all matters concerning The Humour Foundation.

Collectively, Board Directors are required to:

• Set the strategic direction, including developing the vision, mission, purpose, strategic plan and key priorities for The Humour Foundation;
• Govern The Humour Foundation in accordance with policies and procedures;
• Identify and characterise risk relevant to the organisation and ensure there are effective risk management strategies in place;
• Keep informed of organisation stakeholders’ concerns, needs and interests and ensure that these receive proper consideration either by the Board or management;
• Set performance management expectations for the organisation and the Chief Executive Officer and monitor organisational performance; and
• Share equal responsibility for the financial integrity of the organisation and monitor the financial performance and health of the organisation.

Key Selection Criteria

• Mission and Values Alignment – a demonstrated passion for and commitment to work undertaken by The Humour Foundation, and our values: respect, compassion, optimism, creativity.
• Strategic Leadership – an ability to develop and review strategy through critical thinking and constructive questioning that contributes to the Board’s effective decision making.
• Governance expertise – knowledge of the responsibilities of a Non-Executive Director, including a practical understanding of a Board’s legal, ethical, fiduciary, and financial responsibilities.
• Stakeholder engagement and networks – including within business, philanthropy, government or the health/aged care/arts sectors which can be drawn on to further The Humour Foundation’s mission and strategy.

In addition to the above competencies, we are seeking applications from candidates who can demonstrate commercial acumen and expertise in contemporary marketing, branding and communications as an area of strategic focus for The Humour Foundation. While not essential, applicants who can also demonstrate experience and/or knowledge in one or both of the following will be highly regarded:

• aged care – senior executive experience, with a deep understanding of the policy framework and operating context for delivery of aged care services; and/or 
• arts – senior executive or governance experience with a national arts organisation.

Commitment

Required commitment will be:

• Board Meetings: approximately 8 per annum
• Annual General meeting; and
• Additional hours, as required, on matters relating to the governance of The Humour Foundation or areas of support sought by management.

Meetings are mostly via video conferencing.

Assessment

You will be assessed on how you fulfill the selection criteria detailed above. To assist the panel with their review of applications, please submit a current resume (max 2 pages) and a cover letter (max 1 page) outlining your interest in joining The Humour Foundation Board and addressing the key selection criteria to board@humourfoundation.org.au. References to be made available on request. 

The Humour Foundation is seeking candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, personal appearance, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, genetic information, or political affiliation.

The Humour Foundation Office is headquartered in Sydney; however, applications will be accepted from other locations within Australia, noting Board members may be required to travel for face-to-face meetings from time to time.

Applicants already in possession of a Director Identification Number (Director ID) registered through the Australian Business Registry Service are required to include it in their application. A successful candidate who does not yet have a Director ID is legally required to provide it prior to appointment.

The Humour Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young, and vulnerable people, and expects all workers to share in this commitment. We have Safeguarding Children certification with the Australian Childhood Foundation and require all Directors to complete a Working with Children Check and Safeguarding training.

If you have any questions, please email:  board@humourfoundation.org.au  

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply ASAP and no later than 9am, Monday 19 May 2025.

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Clown Doctor – Perth

The Humour Foundation is seeking a performer for the Perth Clown Doctor team. Please note: This is a PAID CONTRACTOR position. 
 

Clown Doctors work in hospitals bringing joy and laughter to sick children, their families and hospital staff. While medical doctors do ward rounds looking at what is wrong with a child, Clown Doctors do clown rounds connecting with what is right with the child. Their work covers a variety of situations, from working with clinicians distracting children during painful procedures, to visiting children receiving treatment for ongoing medical conditions and brightening the experience of children staying in hospital whilst they recover from surgery or illness. 

We are looking for a performer to add to our team of Clown Doctors in Perth. Performers of colour and/or from diverse cultural backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply.

Clown Doctors require a unique set of skills. If you have the following skills, please contact us!

• Highly skilled and experienced in clown and/or improvisation  
• Music, movement, and physical theatre skills are a bonus 
• Sensitivity, empathy, and a strong ability to “read the room” 
• Able to respond positively to vulnerable people and stressful situations 
• A good listener, able to work effectively in pairs, within a team and an organisation
• Willing to make the child highest status, able to connect with 0-18 year old’s 
• Reliable, punctual, well presented, and available for ongoing part-time work  
• Imaginative and funny! 

How to Apply

• Click on this link  https://thehumourfoundation.my.salesforce-sites.com/applicationform to obtain a registration form or more information.
• You MUST lodge your registration form by 5pm Monday 21^st April 2025 to be invited to audition.
• Please note: 1st Round Auditions will be held Friday 2^nd and Saturday 3^rd May 2025.

The Humour Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, expecting all staff and performers to share this commitment. Selected applicants must provide a current Working with Children Check and National Police Check.  

Selected applicants will also be asked to comply with The Humour Foundation’s immunisation policy prior to commencing work.