Clinical Governance Director – Deaf Connect

Windsor Group has been appointed by Deaf Connect to manage this executive search. As a profit‑for‑purpose organisation, we support our clients through ethical, values‑aligned recruitment across the nonprofit, government and commercial sectors.

Deaf Connect is Australia’s largest provider of whole-of-life services for Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing individuals. As a national organisation, it delivers a wide range of programs and supports that span early intervention, education, aged care, interpreting, and community engagement. With a strong foundation in Australian Sign Language (Auslan), Deaf Connect is deeply rooted in the culture and identity of the Deaf community.

The organisation plays a vital role in empowering individuals and families to make informed choices and lead fulfilling lives. Through services such as NDIS support, therapy, Auslan education, and aged care programs like Ageing Well, Deaf Connect ensures that people across all life stages have access to inclusive, culturally appropriate care and support. It also partners with government and non-government bodies to improve accessibility and representation.

Beyond service delivery, Deaf Connect is a social impact organisation committed to advocacy and systemic change. It works to remove cultural and language barriers, influence public policy, and promote equity for Deaf Australians. Guided by community consultation and a respect for Deaf history and language, the organisation continues to lead with purpose, ensuring the voices of the Deaf community are heard and respected.

The organisation also arms a fundraising program operating an Art Union. Branded as the Deaf Lottery this program sells tickets through a raffle lottery environment for a major prize. The revenue raised supports the programs and initiatives of Deaf Connect.

Deaf Connect is also Australia’s largest provider of Auslan and Interpreter qualifications, operating as the Registered Training Organisation of Deaf Services (RTO #41192). It offers nationally recognised courses across ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, and WA, serving over 1,000 students annually. Programs range from Certificate II in Auslan to the Diploma of Interpreting, with qualifications respected by employers and educational institutions.

Links
Website
ACNC Profile
Strategic Plan

An established growing organisation with a national footprint, Deaf Connect has a solid financial foundation with which to continue its growth which has consistently been 10-15% compounded growth per annum.

With a well credentialed board, and an established, stable and high performing executive, Deaf Connect is well placed to continue the growth objectives and initiatives planned in line with their new strategic objectives, while maintaining a strong connection with the “grass roots” communities they serve.

Deaf Connect continues to focus on building capacity, influencing social change, and enhancing its cultural and leadership capability framework. The organisation’s strategic plan aims to strengthen its position as a leading provider, fostering partnerships at local, national, and global levels.  Potential future opportunities include expanding the existing lottery program and exploring international partnerships to create cutting edge technology.

Strategic leadership remains central to ensuring the organisation’s values and mission are reflected in national conversations and policy development.  This includes advocating for the rights and needs of Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing Australians, and positioning Deaf Connect as a leading voice in driving social change.

A key priority is deepening community engagement through broad consultation and transparent communication. The Board is committed to ensuring that services are shaped by the real needs of the community, with mechanisms in place for ongoing dialogue and accountability. To this end, the Board have identified several priorities and initiatives which supports the delivery of responsive, inclusive programs that reflect the lived experiences of those they serve.

To support long-term impact, the Board is also focused on aligning services nationally, building organisational capability, and maintaining strong governance. This includes expanding partnerships, investing in systems and workforce development, and fostering a culture of innovation.

Governance oversight extends to clinical and care governance, with performance monitored through key indicators such as satisfaction, participation, and brand engagement. These priorities reflect a commitment to operational excellence and a deep connection to community values and aspirations.

With the evolving Aged Care reforms in Australia, Deaf Connect’s board has chosen to proactively strengthen its leadership by aligning clinical expertise with the specific care it provides. This approach reflects the board’s commitment to futureproofing and maintaining the highest standards of care.

This role significantly contributes to the successful performance and position of the board; it is expected that Directors with clinical experience can provide insight into clinical and care governance and offer expertise on key decisions affecting the quality and safety of care to the clients we serve.

As the organisation refines its business, in line with its strategic direction, there will always be some change, understanding change and leading change will be ongoing.

Being the largest, whole-of-life service provider and social impact organisation for deaf brings its own challenges with the organisation striving to remain nimble to respond to changes and opportunities as they arise.

Being a respected voice in the sector and sought after partner with government and industry the need to be responsive and take on projects when needed is an ongoing challenge.

Delivering services in an ever-evolving landscape this board look to proactively respond to challenges where compliance becomes a feature for organisation to benchmark.

Governance is critical, and the Deaf Connect Board is seeking to appoint a new Director with a broader range of clinical care experience, further aligning with the requirements introduced under the Aged Care reforms in Australia. This reflects Deaf Connect’s commitment to excellence in service delivery and cultural integrity.

While legislation does not prescribe the specific nature of clinical experience required, the Board recognises the importance of aligning and strengthening this expertise with Deaf Connect’s unique service offerings and cultural context. Deaf Connect provides clinical care through its Aging Well, 1:1 support programs and early intervention service, with a strong emphasis on community-based support and independent living.

The successful candidate brings clinical insight that spans allied health disciplines such as nursing, audiology, speech therapy, social work, and in-home support. Experience in aged care, disability services, or community health – particularly within culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations or Deaf and hard of hearing communities – is highly valued.

Importantly, Deaf Connect is not a medical service provider seeking to “fix” deafness. It is a culture and community that celebrates Deaf identity. As Australia’s largest employer of Deaf people, Deaf Connect is committed to providing opportunities for individuals to live their best lives. Understanding this cultural distinction is essential for any Board member.

This role requires:

• Board Governance: Proven experience in governance, ideally with AICD credentials. Previous board roles, including committee chair or deputy chair, are desirable.
• Clinical Expertise: A background in clinical governance, quality and safety oversight, and community service leadership. Experience in organisations with turnover exceeding $50 million is preferred.
• An interest in learning and understanding Deaf Culture: An appreciation for the diversity of communication styles and approaches within the Deaf community. This includes recognising the cultural, not medical, nature of deafness and engaging respectfully in a boardroom environment that reflects this diversity.

This appointment represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen the Board’s capability, support succession planning, and ensure continued compliance and excellence in service delivery.

Comfortable in the boardroom environment with a refined professional decorum, you bring a curiosity and proactive approach to carrying out your duties in a collaborative and supportive manner.

Leadership & People

Proven governance experience, ideally supported by AICD credentials or equivalent governance qualifications. Previous board experience, including committee chair or deputy chair positions, will be highly regarded. This appointment represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen the Board’s capability, support succession planning and ensure continued excellence in governance and service delivery.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong emotional intelligence, empathy and interpersonal effectiveness, with the ability to work collaboratively within a diverse and inclusive board environment. They will build trusted relationships, contribute positively to board culture and support constructive engagement between directors, executives and stakeholders.

Strategy & Planning

The successful candidate will contribute to Board discussions and decisions relating to clinical and care governance, organisational capability, service quality, safety, risk management and strategic objectives.

Experience supporting organisations through growth, transformation, regulatory reform or service innovation will be highly regarded. The Board is seeking an individual who can contribute strategic insight while helping the organisation balance innovation and emerging opportunities with appropriate governance, quality assurance and risk oversight.

An ability to operate effectively within a dynamic and evolving environment, including consideration of changing service delivery models, technology-enabled services and future sector developments, will be highly valued.

Operational or Technical Expertise

A strong background in clinical governance, quality and safety oversight, contractual compliance and community service leadership.

Experience working within highly regulated and government-funded service environments is essential, together with an understanding of governance obligations, quality frameworks, risk management, safeguarding and regulatory compliance requirements.

Experience in aged care, disability services, community health, nursing, audiology, speech therapy, social work, allied health, in-home support services or comparable human services environments will be highly regarded.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to provide independent oversight, interpret complex quality and safety information and contribute to informed decision-making on matters affecting service quality, client outcomes and organisational performance.

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence

An understanding of community-based service delivery and the ability to contribute to discussions that influence positive outcomes for Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing Australians.

The successful candidate will bring an appreciation of stakeholder engagement within complex service environments and demonstrate the ability to engage respectfully and effectively with diverse communities, government agencies, regulators, service partners and sector stakeholders.

Experience navigating government-funded programs, public policy settings and relationships within regulated sectors will be advantageous.

Values, Integrity & Cultural Alignment

An interest in learning about Deaf culture and the diverse communication styles within the Deaf community, recognising deafness as a cultural identity and engaging respectfully within Deaf Connect’s community.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong record of professional integrity, ethical conduct and governance accountability, consistent with the expectations placed on directors of highly regulated organisations. They will be capable of satisfying fit-and-proper-person requirements and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, transparency and stewardship.

The Board seeks an individual who is community-minded, values-driven and committed to supporting Deaf Connect’s mission while balancing commercial, compliance and community considerations.

The ideal candidate will bring governance experience, clinical insight, and a collaborative approach to board participation. They will combine strong clinical governance expertise with highly developed emotional intelligence, judgement, and relationship-building capability. Comfortable operating in a dynamic, values-driven and culturally diverse environment, they will demonstrate curiosity, sound governance practice and the ability to contribute constructively to strategic discussions regarding quality, safety, innovation, risk and organisational growth. Experience within highly regulated, government-funded service sectors and a genuine commitment to Deaf Connect’s mission and community will be highly regarded.

Windsor Group and Deaf Connect are committed to equal opportunity employment practices. Applications will be assessed on merit, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. An offer of appointment will be made to the applicant whose written application and interview performance best demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the role.

Windsor Group will review applications as they are received. We encourage early applications, as screening begins immediately. Process steps:

• Initial screening by Windsor Group.
• Consultant interview
• Client panel interview(s)
• Informal engagement with Board representatives
• Board observation and meeting attendance process
• Governance and compliance checks
• Reference checks

Indicative timeline:

• Weeks 1-5: Candidate sourcing and screening
• Weeks 6-7: Windsor Group interviews
• Week 8: Client interviews

We will keep candidates updated throughout each stage.

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes:

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format)
• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role

Submit your application quoting reference number LFCCBD to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information, please contact Lindy Fentiman on 07 3211 0001.

Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day.

View the live job advertisement here.