Policies to Develop

Developing a Policies and Procedures Manual is an important strategy for maintaining and developing organisational capacity, memory and quality. A Policies and Procedures Manual will give staff and volunteers guidance about how to do their work, help ensure that practice is consistent accross your organisation, and record processes so that you don't need to reinvent the wheel in a situation you have faced before.

Ultimately, the Board is responsible for ensuring that appropriate policies and procedures are in place, but many Boards will delegate some or all of this task to paid staff.

If you are concerned that some policies are currently missing from your organisation, don't panic! First of all, check that the basics are covered by your staff's terms and conditions or Award agreement. Secondly, prioritise the missing policies and get to work on the most important ones first.

Drafting policies from scratch can be a time-consuming task. Two shortcuts are available. One is to find and adapt existing policies from similar organisations. Another is to hire a consultant to work with your organisation to create a Policy and Procedures Manual.

In adapting another organisation's policies, be sure to review the document very carefully and distribute copies to all staff and board for comment before proceeding to redraft it.

The policy list might include the following sections:

• Governance and Management
• Board or Committee Operations
• Committee Operating
• Executive Authority
• Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Financial Management
• Quality Assurance, Evaluation and Research
• Membership
• Complaints and Feedback
• Organisation Development


• Operations and Administration
• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Information Management
• Record Keeping
• Office Environment & Equipment
• Expense Reimbursement
• Tenders, Grants and Sponsorship


• Human Resources
• Recruitment and Employment
• Staff Induction
• Remuneration
• Salary Sacrificing
• Staff Entitlements & Conditions
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Conduct and Ethics
• Staff Supervision
• Performance Appraisal
• Training and Professional Development
• Volunteers
• Counselling and Discipline
• Termination of Employment


• Advocacy and Representation
• Public Policy Development
• Consultation
• Communications
• Representation
• Relationships and Partnerships

Back to Strategy: Strategic Thinking and Planning for Community Organisations

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