Diocesan Governance CouncilThe Diocesan Governance Council (DGC) is a key advisory body within the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, established to support the Bishop and the Trustees in navigating the complex landscape of legal, compliance, and governance responsibilities.
About
The Diocesan Governance Council (DGC) is a key advisory body within the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, established to support the Bishop and the Trustees in navigating the complex landscape of legal, compliance, and governance responsibilities. Formed as part of the Diocesan Governance Framework in 2025, the Council plays a vital role in ensuring the Diocese and its agencies operate with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
The Council’s core functions include oversight of governance systems, legal risk management, and regulatory compliance. It monitors the effectiveness of governance structures across all Councils, Boards, and Committees, promotes ethical conduct, and ensures decisions are well-documented and communicated. The DGC also oversees the identification and management of legal risks, reviews compliance programs, and ensures timely reporting of issues to the Bishop and Trustees.
In addition, the Council contributes to key personnel management through nomination and remuneration processes, ensuring alignment with the Diocese’s mission and strategic goals. It supports performance management frameworks and promotes fair, merit-based practices.
The DGC is responsible for reviewing governance policies, facilitating training and awareness programs, and maintaining communication channels across the Diocese. It meets at least three times annually and oversees standing committees, such as the Internal Audit & Risk Committee and the Nominations & Remuneration Committee, to assist in fulfilling its mandate.
Through its comprehensive oversight, the Diocesan Governance Council ensures the Diocese remains compliant, ethically sound, and strategically aligned with its mission and values.
Skills and experience
Each of us is gifted with varying talents, skills and experiences. In essence, we seek people who are passionate about supporting the future of our Church and building on our history to fulfill our mission – to serve all in the community so they may experience life to the full.
These differing perspectives and skills combine to complement others, challenge our thinking and build a truly synodal church.
The skills and backgrounds that might align with what we seek for this Council or Board are outlined below. Applicants do not have to fit any or all of those listed. We welcome expressions of interests from all those who feel called to contribute their insight, skills and experience.
The range of experience we need to support this Council may include people with backgrounds and experience in:
- Catholic mission and identity
- Legal (commercial specialty in particular)
- Risk Management
- Human Resources / People & Culture
- Strategic Planning
- Financial skills
- Policy Development
Meeting Dates
*dates subject to change
Governance Council
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Thursday 29 January 2026
8:30am to 3:15pm *Optional Good Governance Day
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Thursday 12 February 2026
4:00pm to 6:00pm
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Thursday 11 June 2026
4:00pm to 6:00pm
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Thursday 13 August 2026
4:00pm to 6:00pm
Statutes and Protocols
Statutes and Protocols are ad experimentum during the first year, and may be updated from time to time during that year. The role of the relevant Council or Board will be to, at the end of the first year, consider the drafts and participate in updates to make the process fit for purpose.
