Name: External Conduct Standards for Charities
Rating: 5.0 (6 reviews)

Make sure your charity operates safely overseas

Charities that operate overseas must be able to identify and manage risks, handle money safely, and protect staff and beneficiaries.

Receive practical guidance on how your charity can meet the External Conduct Standards which govern a registered charity’s operations outside of Australia.

Compliance helps to minimise the risks for charities operating overseas and is required for a charity to maintain its registration.

Learn how to manage activities and control resources overseas (including funding), obtain and keep sufficient records of overseas activities, initiate and sustain processes and procedures to combat fraud and corruption within the charity’s overseas operations, and protect vulnerable individuals.

In addition, you’ll compare the External Conduct Standards with the Australian Council for International Development’s Code of Conduct as an example of how the ACNC reduces red tape in the sector.

You will also conduct a self-evaluation of your charity’s performance against the Standards and develop a plan to strengthen its response to overseas risks.

Syllabus

Week 1
Introduction and External Conduct Standards 1 and 2
- What are the External Conduct Standards and who do they apply to?
  Gain an overview of the 4 External Conduct Standards, which charities they apply to, and how these Standards compare with the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct.
- How to meet External Conduct Standard 1
  Understand External Conduct Stand 1 and apply what you have learned to your charity through activities on financial abuse, working with partners and cybersecurity.
- How to meet External Conduct Standard 2
  Learn what your charity needs to do to meet External Conduct Standard 2 and access information, advice and a record keeping checklist.
Week 2
External Conduct Standards 3 and 4 and charity self-evaluation
- How to meet External Conduct Standard 3
  Learn what your charity can do to meet External Conduct Standard 3 and complete activities to apply your learning.
- How to meet External Conduct Standard 4
  Learn how your charity can meet External Conduct Standard 4. Access resources for safeguarding vulnerable people. Watch a case study highlighting ECS 4 and ACFID's Code of Conduct. Know what to do if things go wrong overseas.
- Charity self-evaluation: Meeting obligations when operating overseas
  Go through the External Conduct Standards with your charity in mind and design ways to strengthen its activities overseas and responses to risk.
- Next steps
  Want to continue learning but not sure where to turn? Want to get a Certificate for completing this course? This section shows you how.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Identify the four External Conduct Standards and describe which charities they apply to
Assess whether the External Conduct Standards have been correctly applied by charities through reflecting on case studies
Correctly apply the External Conduct Standards to their own charity
Demonstrate that the steps taken to apply External Conduct Standards to itself are ‘reasonable steps’ based on their charity’s size, operating location/s, purposes, beneficiaries, activities and other factors
Evaluate your charity’s current performance against the External Conduct Standards and create a plan to strengthen its response to overseas risks
Reflect on the similarities and differences between the External Conduct Standards and the Australian Council for International Development’s Code of Conduct and consider how charities registered with the ACNC could meet the requirements of both

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone involved in registered charities that operate, or intend to operate, overseas.

This includes sending money/goods overseas, working overseas, partnering with an overseas charity/organisation, supplying staff/volunteers overseas, or advocating overseas.

Who will you learn with?

Rachel Gear

Rachel Gear is the ACNC's Instructional Designer and Lead Educator for the eLearning Program. She's committed to designing and teaching accessible and relevant professional development for adults.

Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith is the Director of Advice Services, Education and Public Affairs, and is the Director behind the ACNC’s eLearning program. She’s been with the ACNC since it started.

Who developed the course?

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the national regulator of charities. We register and regulate Australia’s many charities. We help charities understand and meet their obligations through information, advice and guidance. We help the public understand the work of the charity sector and provide a free searchable register of Australian registered charities.

Established
2012
Location
Melbourne, Victoria

What's included?

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

Unlimited access to this course

Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes

Tests to validate your learning

A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

Learning on FutureLearn

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Join a global classroom

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Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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