Whistleblowers protection and reporting

Disclosure

The VRQA accepts and investigates any disclosures made under the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 concerning VRQA Board members and/or VRQA staff (officers).

Statement of support to whistleblowers

The VRQA does not tolerate improper conduct by its members or officers, nor the taking of reprisals against those who come forward to disclose such conduct under the Act. The VRQA recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices, and supports the making of disclosures that reveal corrupt conduct, or conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources or a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment. The alleged conduct must be serious enough to constitute, if proven, a criminal offence or reasonable grounds for dismissal to satisfy the Act.

Corrupt conduct

Corrupt conduct means:

  • conduct that adversely affects the honest performance of functions
  • the dishonest performance of functions or performance with inappropriate partiality
  • conduct that amounts to a breach of public trust
  • conduct that amounts to the misuse of information/material acquired in the course of one's duties
  • a conspiracy or attempt to engage in the above conduct.

The reporting system

Contact persons within the VRQA

Disclosures of improper conduct or detrimental action by members and/or officers of the VRQA may be made directly to the following officer:

Whistleblower Protection Coordinator
VRQA
PO Box 2317
Melbourne Victoria 3001
Telephone (03) 9651 3282

All correspondence, telephone calls and emails from internal or external whistleblowers will be referred to the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator.

Where a person is contemplating making a disclosure and is concerned about confidentiality, he or she can call the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator and request a meeting in a discreet location away from the workplace.

Alternative contact persons

A disclosure about improper conduct or detrimental action by members and/or officers of the VRQA may also be made directly to the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman Victoria
459 Collins Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
(DX 210174)
Telephone: (03) 9613 6222
Email the Ombudsman Victoria 
The Ombudsman Victoria website

VRQA Policy and Procedures for Whistleblowers Protection