Deakin Integrity

The University and its controlled entities are subject to annual audits by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO). The University’s annual reports are tabled in Parliament and contain the University’s audited accounts, ensuring that public sector entities are transparent and accountable to both the Victorian Parliament and the community.

For further information about the audit process please email Deakin Integrity or visit the VAGO website.

Deakin is committed to fostering a culture of honesty, transparency, responsibility, fairness and accountability and ethical behaviour. The University must maintain integrity in its decision-making and ensure that it is free of undue influences, interests or relationships that give rise to a conflict of interest (actual, potential or perceived).

Members of Deakin's governing body, the University Council, as well as staff and associates of the University must declare any disclosable interests prior to or during their employment at or service to the University.

Staff wishing to declare an interest or seek further information regarding disclosures and declarations of interest should consult the Declaration of Interest Procedure. Members of the public may raise a concern about a relevant conflict of interest by email to Deakin Integrity.

Foreign interference occurs when activities are carried out by, or on behalf of a foreign actor, which are coercive, clandestine, deceptive or corrupting and are contrary to Australia’s sovereignty, values and national interests.

Enterprises, both big and small, public and private, operating across Australia and internationally, are at risk from cyber intrusion and possibly other aspects of foreign interference.

Deakin University is taking a range of measures to understand the implications of foreign interference, to raise awareness of the risk of foreign interference and to diligently protect its assets including staff, students and stakeholders from foreign interference. These measures are being taken in order to give assurance to the University’s Council that it operates with the institutional autonomy befitting an Australian public university, to ensure that the public trust in Deakin University is maintained and to protect Australia’s national interests and sovereignty.

Members of the public may raise a concern or make a complaint by email to Deakin Integrity. The University has established an external reporting line through Stopline and any person may use this facility to report a matter (including with total anonymity) to the University.

Deakin actively promotes a culture of honesty and integrity and does not tolerate fraud or corruption.

The University has established controls and procedures to prevent and detect fraudulent and corrupt conduct in respect to the activities of students, staff and associates of the University, and its controlled entities, covering all aspects and functions of its operations. The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the investigation of any fraud-related matter and must report the matter to the Audit and Risk Committee of Council. There are also specific processes addressing research integrity and academic integrity.

Statutory protections may apply to any person making a disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012. These must be directed to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) or the Victorian Ombudsman.

Staff and students should consult the Fraud and Corruption Prevention and Control Policy for further information. Members of the public may raise a concern or make a complaint by email to Deakin Integrity. The University has established an external reporting line through Stopline. Any person may report a matter directly.

Deakin University makes information about its operations available to the public through its annual reports, website and publications. Information that is not publicly available may be accessible under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic).

Find out more about Access to Correction of Personal Information

Any individual, whether staff, student or a member of the public, who has a legitimate concern about corrupt or improper conduct by the University or an officer of the University and who seeks the statutory protections afforced to a discloser, must make a Public Interest Disclosure directly to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) or the Victorian Ombudsman. The University has obligations under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (Vic) to ensure that a person who has made a public interest disclosure is not subject to detrimental action.

Information and advice about these options are available from the IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman websites, or from Deakin Integrity.