Boards and Committees: frequently asked questions

Why join a Board or Committee?
You can help to make a difference to young people's lives by being part of a government board or committee. Young people want to be taken seriously, to be asked what they think and to have a say in decisions which affect their lives. By joining a board or committee you can help make decisions about things that affect all our lives.

Boards should try to include people of all ages, from city and country, women and men, Aboriginal people, people of culturally diverse backgrounds, people with different abilities, and a broad range of experience.

What is involved in being on a Board or Committee?
Different boards and committees operate in different ways, depending on the way they are set up and the issues they deal with. Some boards and committees provide advice to ministers, others help set directions for government bodies, and others are a way to ask the community about things the government does.

Most positions on boards and committees are only part-time. Some meet regularly throughout the year - maybe every month or every few months - over a number of years. Others meet more regularly but for a shorter period of time to deal with a special issue. Usually appointment to a board or committee will be for a fixed period of time - from a few months to a number of years.

Some boards and committees pay members for their time and for daily expenses like travel.

What kinds of Boards or Committees are there?
There are hundreds of boards and committees currently operating in New South Wales. They deal with almost every issue the government manages, including training and education, the environment, transport, recreation and sport, the arts, community services, housing, police, justice and health.

Not all of the boards will be of interest to you, however the questions in the application form will ask you to identify the areas you are interested in, or have experience or expertise in.

How do I apply?
Complete the application form, either online or download a PDF version of the application form. If applying in hard copy, you may also include other information to show what contribution you could make to a board or committee. This might include details of your skills and knowledge, work experience, life experiences, awards, certificates, thank you letters or other recognition you've received, or newspaper clippings showing your interest and involvement in issues affecting young people.

The information you supply is kept strictly confidential.

What will happen to my application?
Your application will be considered against the criteria for being on the register. As well as things like your experience, expertise or qualifications, the selection process considers other factors, like the need to represent different experiences and backgrounds.

How do I know if I am successful?

Once the register application has been received it is reviewed by DPC staff. Once approved an email is sent to the applicant providing them with a username and password to gain access to their personal profile at any time to update. They will also receive regular emails regarding vacancies.

Who can I talk to about applying?
If you would like more information about the Department of Premier and Cabinet Register please phone 02 9228 4199 or email boards@dpc.nsw.gov.au.