Public Interest Disclosures (PID)

Murrumbidgee Local Health District is committed to building a ‘speak up’ culture whereby public officials (persons employed in or by NSW Health) are encouraged to report conduct that they reasonably believe involves wrongdoing. 

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Reports of serious wrongdoing are taken seriously.

Any NSW Health staff member who has knowledge of, or who has witnessed serious wrongdoing should make a confidential report about the wrongdoing. A strong culture of reporting promotes integrity, accountability and transparent management within NSW Health.

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 (NSW) [the PID Act] relates to reports of serious wrongdoing in, or affecting, public sector organisations.

NSW Health has procedures in place which support the reporting of wrongdoing as part of a ‘speak up’ culture. These procedures have been designed to assist NSW Health in ensuring that the workplace is an environment where:

  • Staff who speak out about serious wrongdoings are protected.
  • Processes are in place to ensure confidentiality of reports is maintained.
  • Employees are encouraged to disclose wrongdoing without fear of reprisal.
  • Disclosures of wrongdoing are assessed and dealt with in a fair and efficient manner.
  • Responsibilities exist that ensure appropriate action is taken to investigate reports of serious wrongdoing that have been received.

The PID Act provides certain protections for NSW Government employees who report allegations of serious wrongdoing in accordance with the Act. You should consider reporting wrongdoing through the public interest disclosures system if your concerns are about:

  • Corrupt conduct
  • Serious maladministration
  • Serious and substantial waste
  • A failure to comply with the system through which people can access government information (Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009)
  • A breach of local government pecuniary interest requirements.

Reports of serious wrongdoing will be managed in accordance with the NSW Health Policy Directive Public Interest Disclosures (PD2023_026). Reports that do not meet at least one of the definitions of serious wrongdoing, or other criteria in the PID Act, will be dealt with in line with other relevant NSW Health policy directives, such as Resolving Workplace Grievances (PD2016_046), and Prevention and Management of Bullying in NSW Health (PD2021_030).

If you are looking for further information for grievances or other concerns not considered as serious wrongdoing, refer to your internal grievances and concerns policy.

When making a report of serious wrongdoing, the report should include as much information as possible should be provided, including:

  • date, time and location of key events
  • name of person(s) involved in the suspected wrongdoing, their role, title and how they are involved
  • your relationship with the person(s) involved, e.g., if you work closely with them
  • an explanation of the matter you are reporting
  • how you became aware of the matter being reported
  • names of possible witnesses
  • any other information which will support your report.

Where can I report serious wrongdoing?

Reports of serious wrongdoing can be made to:

Governance, Risk and Audit Unit:
Jen Spain
Director Governance, Risk and Audit
Jenny.Spain@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 5943 2006

MLHD

For further information:

What will occur after a Public Interest Disclosure

NSW Health’s Public Interest Disclosures policy sets out the process we follow if you report wrongdoing to the principal officer or someone else who works here. The PID Act provides a framework for public officials to report serious wrongdoing in the public sector, and to be protected when they do so. Reports can be made to a disclosure officer within their agency, the head of an agency, a person’s manager and to disclosure officers within other agencies, such as integrity agencies.

More information

Contact the Governance, Risk and Audit Unit:

Jen Spain
Director Governance, Risk and Audit
Jenny.Spain@health.nsw.gov.au
(02) 5943 2006

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