Fraud and corruption prevention

It’s your call - report suspected fraud and corruption.

Everyone is entitled to work in an environment with a culture of honesty and integrity free from fraud and corruption. The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to prevent and minimise the incidence of fraud and corruption and you can assist by reporting any suspected instances that may come to your attention.

The DCJ Fraud and Corruption Prevention Control Policy (PDF, 288.1 KB) sets out the system of fraud and corruption prevention control and covers the responsibilities for managing fraud and corruption within DCJ. 

If you need to make a complaint, please use the Feedback Assist widget on the department’s Contact us page.

Reporting fraud and corruption

Public Interest Disclosures (PID)

The Public Interest Disclosure Policy and Procedure provides that a disclosure of serious wrongdoing should be reported to the following people:

• A Manager
• A Disclosure Officer
• A member of the Conduct and Professional Standards Unit
• The DCJ PID Co-ordinator
• The Secretary
• Externally to an Integrity Agency

The DCJ PID Co-ordinator can be contacted via email at pid@dcj.nsw.gov.au.

The PID Policy and Procedure is available here.  

24 x 7 Fraud and Corruption Hotline - reporting channels

The Hotline has been established to receive suspected fraud or corruption reports via an external independent provider (Core Integrity). The Hotline supports anonymous reporting while still allowing the investigator to seek further information from the anonymous reporter via a secure web-based system i.e. the anonymous reporter cannot be identified which allows the reporter to participate and track a matter to its investigation and resolution.

• Toll free number: 1800 950 649
• https://www.qrs.ly/DCJFraud
• Email: DCJFraudHotline@coreintegrity.com.au
• Mail: PO Box 730, Milsons Point NSW 1565
• QR code below:

Housing Fraud Unit

Email to HFU@dcj.nsw.gov.au or write to the Housing Fraud Unit, Locked Bag 5000, PARRAMATTA NSW 2124.

Registrar of Community Housing

Call 1800 330 940 or fax (02) 8741 2522
Write to the Registrar of Community Housing, PO Box 2236, BURWOOD NORTH  NSW 2134, email registrar@facs.nsw.gov.au.or visit the Registrar of Community Housing website.

External reporting bodies

• Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC): call 1800 463 909 or use the online form on the ICAC website.
• Ombudsman’s Office: maladministration call 02 9286 1000 or visit the Ombudsman NSW website.
• Audit Office: serious and substantial waste call 02 9275 7100 or visit the Audit Office of NSW website or email governance@audit.nsw.gov.au 
• Information and Privacy Commission: call 1800 472 679 or visit the Information and Privacy Commission NSW website.

What is fraud and corruption?

Corrupt conduct is defined by the ICAC as deliberate or intentional wrongdoing, not negligence or a mistake. It has to involve or affect a NSW public official or public sector organisation.

While it takes many forms, corrupt conduct occurs when:

• A public official improperly uses, or tries to improperly use, the knowledge, power or resources of their position for personal gain or the advantage of others.
• A public official dishonestly exercises his or her official functions, or improperly exercises his or her official functions in a partial manner, breaches public trust or misuses information or material acquired during the course of his or her official functions.
• A member of the public influences, or tries to influence, a public official to use his or her position in a way that affects the probity of the public official's exercise of functions.
• A member of the public engages in conduct that could involve one of the matters set out in section 8(2A) of the NSW ICAC Act where such conduct impairs, or could impair, public confidence in public administration. Some examples of this are:

1. collusive tendering,
2. fraud in relation to applications for licences, permits or other authorities under legislation designed to protect health and safety or the environment or designed to facilitate the management and commercial exploitation of resources,
3. dishonestly obtaining or assisting in obtaining, or dishonestly benefiting from, the payment or application of public funds for private advantage or the disposition of public assets for private advantage,
4. defrauding the public revenue,
5. fraudulently obtaining or retaining employment or appointment as a public official.

DCJ considers it an obligation of its employees and third party providers that such conduct be promptly reported.

Contact and support

Advice and support is available from the Business Ethics and Compliance Unit (BECU) via the mailbox at fraudandcorruption@dcj.nsw.gov.au.