DEEWR Fraud Policy

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (the department) is committed to preventing fraud in all aspects of its business. The department’s fraud control framework aims to ensure that the department can maintain a high level of service to the community. It is designed to protect public money and property and to protect the integrity, security and reputation of the department. The department’s fraud control framework ensures that:

• fraud against the department is minimised;
• losses incurred by the department due to fraud are minimised; and
• should fraud occur, it is rapidly detected, effectively investigated and appropriate sanctions are applied (including criminal prosecution).

A robust fraud control environment ensures that public and Government confidence in the integrity of the department’s activities is maintained. Fraud control supports the department’s governance structure by ensuring that the department can meet its policy and operational objectives in an appropriately risk managed manner.

What is Fraud?

Fraud in the Commonwealth environment is defined as:

“Dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means”.

In this definition, ‘benefit’ refers both to tangible items, such as money or objects, and intangible benefits including power, status or information.

Reporting Fraud

You can provide information about suspected fraudulent or unethical behaviour in the provision of Australian Government services that are managed by DEEWR by emailing us at fraud@deewr.gov.au.

If you have information relating to incorrect payments of Commonwealth benefits (Centrelink, Medicare, the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme or Child Support Agency payments), then please visit the Australian Government Services Fraud Tip-Off Line.

What Information should I provide?

You are not required to provide your contact details, however, the more information and specific details you can provide about your allegation the easier it will be for us to take action. You are encouraged to provide the following:

• Who is involved? Include as much detail as you can such as the name of the person or organisation, date of birth, addresses and phone numbers
• What fraud do you think has occurred? Including how, when and where it occurred.
• Your contact details.

What will happen next?

The department takes all allegations of fraud seriously. Your information will be assessed and where appropriate investigated. Therefore the more information you can provide at the early stages, the better able we are to look into the matter.

The department will endeavour to respond to your allegations, however, due to privacy restrictions and/or the integrity of any investigation, feedback may not always be provided. In particular, please note that if your allegation involves another individual, the department may not be able to give you any information about the conduct or outcome of the investigation due to the department’ s obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Privacy Statement

Personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. Any personal information collected from you when you email us at fraud@deewr.gov.au, will only be used for purposes connected to the investigation of your allegations, including contacting you if further information is required.

It is the department’s practice to keep your identity confidential. The department will not disclose your personal information without your consent, unless authorised or required by law.