The University is committed to fostering a culture where staff and other members of the University community are encouraged to report concerns of possible wrongdoing and unsafe practices.
There are legislative protections for individuals who report on suspected wrongdoing and unsafe practices, including protecting their identity as far as is reasonably practical, provided certain requirements are met.
All University employees, officers and contractors are, by law, public officers and are required by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2012 (ICAC Act) to report corruption to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption via the Office for Public Integrity (OPI) and misconduct or maladministration in public administration to the Ombudsman SA.
The University has a Public Interest Disclosure Policy and Procedures which outline the options for how informants may make a disclosure to the University or relevant external body, how the University supports informants who make disclosures, and the processes to be followed by those who receive or are responsible for investigating disclosures.
Making a disclosure
Many matters involving wrongdoing or unsafe practices related to Flinders University activities can be appropriately dealt with by raising the matter informally with an appropriate member of senior management, or by taking action under another University policy or procedures. For example, see:
If a matter is not suitable for these informal or internal processes, or the informant considers it to be of high importance and/or sensitive in nature, disclosures may be made as follows:
- where the disclosure relates to a staff member or other public officer of Flinders University, directly to their supervisor
- to the whistleblower officer, or
- to a relevant external body.
All disclosures should be referred to the whistleblower officer as soon as reasonably practicable, who will provide advice and support to recipients and other University officers or employees involved in handling the disclosure to ensure the University complies with its obligations under relevant laws.
View the Public Interest Disclosure Procedures for more information on making a disclosure, the obligations of informants, and how disclosures will be handled and investigated.
Mandatory reporting
Under the ICAC Act, any public officer who reasonably suspects corruption in public administration is required to make a report to the OPI (unless they know that the matter has already been reported). This is a mandatory obligation.
Under guidelines published by the Ombudsman SA, any public officer who reasonably suspects misconduct or maladministration in public administration is expected (but not legally obliged) to make a report to the Ombudsman SA (unless they know that the matter has already been reported).
Protection of informants
An informant may be entitled to statutory protection from victimisation, provided certain requirements are met. Where statutory protections are not available, the University still aims to provide informants with confidentiality and protection from detrimental treatment.
All members of the University community with knowledge of a disclosure are required to assist in protecting and supporting informants, to keep the identity of informants and any information which might lead to their identification confidential, or, if an informant has elected to remain anonymous, not try to identify the informant.
More information on the requirements for statutory protection is detailed in the Public Interest Disclosure Procedures and Guidelines for Informants. The OPI can also provide additional information to informants who are concerned about detrimental treatment and wish to understand more about their legal rights.
