Port Lincoln Office – Freecall 1800 309 912
Port Augusta Office – Freecall 1800 111 052
Ceduna Office – Freecall 1800 839 059

Governance, Board of Directors and Membership

Corporate Governance

Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation operates under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act) which requires every corporation to have internal governance rules. We call this a ‘Rule Book’ for short.

The rule book is a critical tool in supporting transparent governance practices in corporations. It provides clear guidance to the corporation and its members on the rules the corporation must follow.

It’s the key governing document that sets things like: what our corporation is set up to do; who is eligible to be involved; who has authority for what and how we are accountable for it and the processes for making decisions.

The Board of Directors

The Structure of the Board.

The affairs of FLVSAC are vested in the Board of up to nine (9) persons, six (6) of which are to be elected at an Annual General Meeting, and which is hereafter called the “Board of Directors”.

One (1) elected representative from each of the Local Government Areas (Port Augusta, Port Lincoln and Ceduna), all of whom must be Members of the Corporation.

Three (3) elected representatives from any part of FVLSAC regions, all of whom must be Members of the Corporation.

Up to three (3) appointed Board Appointed Directors, who have experience in at least one of the following areas; accounting/finance, legal, governance, public relations, grant writing or fundraising, management in the not-for-profit sector or media.

As at 3rd December 2025 our Board of Directors are as follows;

Chairperson – Patrick Sharpe
Deputy Chairperson – Natasha Budiminski
Community Director (Ceduna) – Joy Reid
Community Director (Ceduna) – Patrick Sharpe
Community Director (Ceduna) – Tania Benbolt

Community Director (Port Augusta) – Vacant

Community Director (Port Lincoln) – Vacant
Community Director (Whyalla) – Tamy Pond
Board Appointed Director – Angela (Johanna) Boylan

Board Appointed Director- Natasha Budiminski
Board Appointed Director- Vacant

Membership

Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (SA) Membership is open to eligible individuals who permanently resides in South Australia within the geographical areas of operation of FVLSAC. Membership requests can also be received from Organisations (see Rule Book below) .

Potential members must apply in writing using the FVLSAC (SA) Application for Membership Form (see below). The Board of Directors receives all Applications for Membership and can either Grant or Refuse an Application for Membership.

Endorsed members are entered onto a Membership Register and the members have responsibilities as well as rights. Only Registered Members can vote at a General Meeting and be considered for Nomination and Election to the Board of Directors.

If you are thinking of becoming a member, have a read of our Rule Book so you can get to know what we are all about.

If you’d like to become a member please download and complete our Application for Membership and either take the membership form into one of our office locations or email it to us at Atheana.Bitmead@fvlsac.org.au.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Atheana Bitmead, Corporate Services Manager at Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (SA) on 08 8683 1896 or email us at Atheana.Bitmead@fvlsac.org.au