Public Interest Disclosures (Whistleblowers)
Course Overview
Organisations have the responsibility of creating and maintaining a workplace that encourages the disclosure of unlawful, corrupt, negligent or improper conduct. All individuals have the right to make a report, have their disclosure investigated thoroughly and impartially and have action taken if wrongdoing is found to have occurred.
This module discusses the legislation surrounding public interest disclosures and outlines the process that should be taken when reporting wrongdoing via a Public Interest Disclosure (PID). The issues of support, reprisals, confidentiality, media disclosure, false claims and record keeping are also addressed. At the conclusion of this module, the learner should be aware of practical implications for managers and employees and should understand the disclosure process.
Key Content- Purpose of the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994.
- Ethics Act and Code of Conduct.
- What is a PID? Who can make a PID?
- What kind of information can be disclosed?
- How to make a PID?
- After making a PID.
- Receipt and assessment by IWSU.
- Verification of a PID.
- What if a potential PID is denied?
- Feedback to the internal witness.
- Support networks.
- Reprisals.
- Confidentiality issues.
- Disclosure to the media.
- Vexatious PID claims.
- Record keeping and reporting of PID's.
- Advice for managers and employees
- Alternatives to disclosures under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this course, learners should be able to:- Describe the key points of the legislation.
- Identify who is able to make a PID, who disclosures can be made to and what kinds of information can be disclosed.
- Explain the disclosure process regarding PID's.
- Discuss the protection provided to internal witnesses.
- Discuss confidentiality issues, disclosures to the media and record keeping in relation to a PID.
- Identify the practical implications for managers and employees surrounding PID's.