Self-audits are among compliance initiatives introduced by the ACNC.
By implementing a new program of self-audits, the ACNC says it is helping charities find and fix governance issues.
Along with other new compliance initiatives, self-audits allowed the ACNC to engage this year on compliance matters with 50 per cent more charities.
In an initial roll-out, 28 charities were involved. Seventy-five per cent of them provided a satisfactory response and 25 per cent were not up to standard.
Five of the 28 charities reported a plan to improve governance.
Of the charities that needed to improve, one found issues that came from rapid growth over 12 months. The charity had grown from small to large but had failed to upgrade governance to suit the more complex requirements for a larger charity. The charity acknowledged that addressing the gaps would ensure donor confidence and build broader community trust and confidence.
Charities may download the report from the ACNC website and work through its sections. A self-evaluation poses questions and prompts you to describe the practical steps your charity is taking to meet its obligations and to list relevant policies and procedures.
If you identify areas needing improvement, the ACNC advises creating an action plan. The self-evaluation includes a template for an action plan.
The ACNC will continue its self-audit program, but charities are urged to assess their governance by using the self-evaluation tool.
