Julia Farr Association Trust Funds Committee
Committee member role profile
The Trust Fund Committee
The Boards of Julia Farr Association Inc (JFA) and the JFM Fund have the responsibility, and the privilege, of distributing funds from a range of trusts and bequests originating from the former ‘Home for Incurables’/Julia Farr Services. These funds are awarded as grants. To be eligible for grants under some of these funds, applicants must be adults (over 18 years old) with one of the types of disability that would have been supported by Julia Farr Services (when it was operating), live on a low income and be resident in South Australia.
The JFA and JFM Fund boards have appointed the Trust Fund Committee to oversee grant making for our General Purpose Distribution Fund, Short Stay Holiday Fund and Noske Christmas Grants. The Committee awards grants to improve the quality of life of South Australians with physical disability, acquired brain injury and degenerative neurological conditions. This is a key role. Grants can make a significant difference to people’s independence and their engagement in the broader community. All Committee members are people with disability and their experience is central to our grant decisions, ensuring grants are made in line with the purpose of the funds, meet the needs of the community and that the grant process is fair.
The role of Committee members
The Committee is responsible for making decisions to award or decline grant applications for the General Purpose Distribution Fund and the Short Stay Holiday Fund. The Committee recommends grants from the Noske Christmas Fund to the JFA Board for their decision.
The JFA staff team receive and process applications. The staff team present anonymised applications to the Committee for decision. In making their decisions, Committee members must consider if the grant is an appropriate use of the funds. This means the grant applicant must be eligible for funding and the purpose of the grant must be consistent with the objectives of the relevant fund. Committee members also consider whether there are adequate funds available to award the grant, and if there are any risks associated with an individual application.
The Committee is accountable to the JFA and JFM Fund boards and minutes of Committee meetings are reported to the boards. The Committee works under terms of reference agreed by the boards. These terms of reference are reviewed every year.
Conduct of Committee members
Committee members must:
- Act honestly and in good faith at all times.
- Be diligent, prepare for Committee meetings, attend Committee meetings and fully participate in discussion and decision making
- Treat grant applicants, fellow Committee members and our boards and employees with respect
- Not raise community, applicant or stakeholder expectations about the likelihood of receiving funding
- Declare all interests that could result in a conflict between personal and organisational priorities
- Not disclose any confidential information, other than as agreed by the board or as required under law
- Not do anything that in any way undermines the Julia Farr group or harms the group’s public image
- Respect and follow the collective decisions of the Committee
Appointing Committee members
Committee members are appointed by the JFA Board for a term ending on 31 July of that year. Members may be reappointed for further terms.
All our Committee members are people with physical disability, acquired brain injury or degenerative neurological condition (in line with the eligibility requirements for funding), because we believe direct experience of disability is essential to making good decisions about grants to individuals.
Committee members are expected to bring experience in group decision making in a voluntary, community or professional setting. Committee members are expected to demonstrate a strong understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality and to manage conflicts of interests in making grants to individuals.
Practicalities
The Committee meets every two months, online via Teams, during regular office hours. Papers are sent to the Committee through an online platform (called BoardPro) a week in advance of the meeting. We are happy to consider other options for sharing papers and hosting meetings if this isn’t accessible to committee members.
Being a committee member does not stop you from applying for funding yourself. Committee members who meet all the eligibility criteria for our grant programs may apply for grants. Their applications will be considered anonymously alongside other applications, with committee members declaring a conflict of interest and removing themselves from the discussion of any application where they have a personal interest. This includes your own application or an application from a family member, colleague or close friend.
Committee members are entitled to claim an honorarium payment of $72.00 per hour attended. You will be reimbursed reasonable costs of public transport or private mileage for attending any in-person Committee meetings.
Interested in joining the Trust Fund Committee?
If you are interested in joining the Trust Fund Committee please send us an expression of interest. This should include your name and contact details and information about your relevant experience. You should also tell us why you are interested in joining the Committee and how you will contribute.
You can send this as a written document or a video to grants@juliafarr.org.au or you can call Jane Arnott on (08) 8373 8388 to discuss your expression of interest.