Conflict of Interest

Speaking up

Building a culture of integrity throughout the education system requires that school staff speak up when they believe a conflict of interest may have influenced or may be influencing the performance of another school staff member’s public duties.

There may be cases where a school staff member believe:

• a conflict of interest held by another staff member has not been declared
• a conflict of interest is not being appropriately managed.

School staff can speak up through the following avenues:

• in the first instance, school staff can raise a concern directly to their principal or manager. If a concern relates to that principal or manager, the report can be made to their manager’s manager or to the appropriate divisional or regional office
• report to the department’s Fraud and Corruption Control unit at fraud.control@education.vic.gov.au or phone: 03 7022 0121
• make a confidential report through the department’s independent Speak Up Service (staff login required) on their website, via email: educationspeakup@pkf.com.au, or phone: 1800 633 642
• report to the Victorian Ombudsman
• report to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

The department is committed to actively protecting and supporting school staff and other employees who speak up. Decisive action, including possible disciplinary action, will be taken against individuals who discriminate against or victimise those who speak up in good faith.