How to report fraud and corruption

Integrity in the Department

The Department of Education creates a better future for all Australians through education. We support Australians to access education and realise the benefits of lifelong learning through national policies and programs. Our work is wide ranging and underpinned by research, evidence, and data, and we provide expert advice to government, develop policy, deliver programs, and administer legislation. We work closely and in partnership with our stakeholders – ensuring our interactions are inclusive and underpinned by trust, transparency, and integrity.

Integrity is a long-held and well-established concept for the public sector. Fraud and corruption in our department would greatly undermine government and public confidence in us, as well as the confidence of our stakeholders.

How to report fraud and corruption

Discover how to report suspected fraud and corruption and learn about the department’s approach to Fraud and Corruption Control.

What is Fraud?

The Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework 2024 defines defines fraud as 'dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means'.

Dishonesty refers to the intent of the person at the time of the act in question, and whether a normal, reasonable person, would judge that act to have been dishonest.

A benefit or loss can be real or intangible, and may affect the person perpetrating the fraud, or result in a benefit or loss for another party. Any benefit or loss can relate to matters such as finances, assets, entitlements, recognition or information.

Any deception must be deliberate or reckless, and misleading. This deception could be through falsification of timesheets, submission of a fake medical certificate, or provision of false information in an application for personal or financial gain.

What is Corrupt conduct

There are 4 types of corrupt conduct under the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022.

A person engages in corrupt conduct if:

• they are a public official and they breach public trust
• they are a public official and they abuse their office as a public official
• they are a public official or former public official and they misuse information they have gained in their capacity as a public official
• they do something that adversely affects a public official’s honest or impartial exercise of powers or performance of official duties. (Any person can engage in this type of corrupt conduct, even if they are not a public official themselves.)

Fraud and Corruption Strategy Statement

The Department of Education has a responsibility to ensure appropriate use of public resources to achieve its goals and promote financial sustainability. A robust fraud and corruption control environment encourages public and government confidence in maintaining the integrity of the department’s activities. Fraud and corruption control supports the department’s governance structure to meet policy and operational objectives in an appropriately risk managed manner.

The department is committed to preventing and controlling fraud and corruption however, this can only be achieved through the collective effort of staff, contractors, external service providers and the community. The department's Fraud and Corruption Strategy Statement provides more information about the department's stance on fraud and corruption.

Reporting Fraud and Corruption 

The Department of Education is committed to preventing fraud and corruption in all aspects of its business. If you suspect fraud or corruption activity within a program administered by the Department of Education, or by one of its employees, you should report it.  The Integrity and Fraud team are available to provide confidential guidance on the most appropriate course of action, including referring potential corruption matters to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Ways to report Fraud and Corruption

You can provide information about suspected fraudulent activities or unethical behaviour by the following avenues:

• Email the Integrity and Fraud team: fraud@education.gov.au or
• Phone: 02 6121 5450 (where you can leave a detailed voicemail message and contact details)
• Anonymously report fraud and corruption through our Whispli online reporting tool. This anonymous reporting tool allows you to report fraud and corruption and communicate directly with the department, without disclosing your identity.
• To report fraud and corruption relating to the Child Care Subsidy or the Inclusion Support Program, you can contact us by submitting the online tip-off form.
• You may also report matters involving serious or systemic corrupt conduct directly to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). For more information on the NACC, please visit National Anti-Corruption Commission website, or contact the Integrity and Fraud team.

Types of fraud and corruption the department can investigate

The department can investigate any suspected fraudulent activity relating to the Department of Education. This can include fraud and corruption within or against a program administered by the department and fraudulent or unethical behaviour committed by departmental staff or its contractors.

Examples of the types of fraud and corruption that the department can investigate include:

• Falsified information being provided to the department, or its contracted service providers, such as to meet eligibility requirements for a program or benefit
• Misuse of departmental information, including unauthorised access of information
• Manipulation of procurement activities
• Misuse of departmental funds or assets
• Billing for services that were not delivered
• Cartel behaviour, or collusion between businesses and employees.

Types of fraud and corruption the department cannot investigate

The department can only investigate fraudulent activity within or against the Department of Education and the programs it administers. Fraud and corruption allegations relevant to other departments, agencies, statutory authorities and organisations must be handled by them.

Fraud relating to Centrelink, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule, child support payments and other Commonwealth benefits can be reported via the Services Australia website.

Fraud relating to visas, immigration and Australian residency, including that involving false education documentation, can be reported via the Department of Home Affairs website.

Suspected scams, including education related scams, can be reported via the Scamwatch website.

Suspected falsified education or qualification documents or misconduct of the students can be reported to the relevant issuing institution, or to the business or service that is relying on the validity of the document.

Suspected fraudulent activities at Registered Training Organisations and TAFEs can be reported to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). If you have information relating to a new company that has been created to continue the business of an existing company that has been deliberately liquidated to avoid paying taxes, creditors and employee entitlements, please visit the Australian Taxation Office website or call the dedicated phoenix hotline on 1800 060 062.

State and territory education departments are responsible for the day to day operation of schools in their area, including the enrolments, curriculum, employment and retention of teachers, relationship with parents and guardians and the administration of schools. Hence, such matters should be raised directly with them. 

Concerns relating to Child Care quality can be raised with the appropriate state or territory regulatory authority: Contact your regulatory authority | ACECQA

Other Suspected Criminal Activities

Allegations of a criminal nature that are not within the remit of the department (such as fraud or corruption against another government department or other criminal offences such as foreign bribery) are referred to the relevant authority with jurisdiction over the matter. Depending on the nature of the allegation, referrals may also be made to another state or Australian Government department, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), or the relevant state police.

Bribing, or attempting to bribe, a foreign public official is a serious crime in Australia. Australian individuals and corporations can be prosecuted under Australian law and the laws of foreign countries for bribing foreign officials. The offences for foreign bribery carry significant penalties for individuals and companies. Reports of foreign bribery may be assessed internally or reported to the AFP.  Report any foreign bribery matters via the Fraud mailbox or the AFP.

What information should I provide?

The department takes all allegations of fraud and corruption seriously but does require specific information to enable it to deal with your matter appropriately. By providing more information in the first instance (including supporting documents), we can investigate your matter more efficiently.

You are encouraged to provide the following information:

• Who is involved? Include as much detail as you can such as the name of the person(s) or organisation, date of birth, addresses and phone numbers. Include parties who may be involved in the activity.
• What fraud or corruption issue do you think has occurred? Please provide details of your concerns about the activity, including how, when and where it occurred.
• How did you come across this information?
• Your contact details (you can also choose to provide information anonymously).

It is strongly recommended that you present the information as clearly and comprehensively as possible. You should not investigate a matter yourself or go looking for additional information, as this could compromise any formal investigation process – just provide as much information as you can.

What will happen after I report my concerns?

The department will make appropriate enquiries into your allegations. Due to privacy restrictions and/or the need to protect the integrity of any further investigation, the department may not provide you with details of the outcome of these enquiries.

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 Notice

Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988, and is collected by the Australian Government Department of Education for the purposes of investigating allegations of suspected fraud or corruption.

If the information you provide does not relate to the activities or functions of the department, we may disclose the information to other Commonwealth, state or territory bodies (including law enforcement bodies) for appropriate assessment or action.

Your information may also be used by the department or given to other parties if it is required or authorised by law.

For more information about how the department manages personal information (including information on accessing or correcting information) and how to make a complaint, please view our full privacy policy or you can request a copy from the department by sending an email to privacy@education.gov.au

Safeguards for Persons Reporting Suspected Fraud and Corruption

Reports of suspected fraud and corruption – and any subsequent investigations – are handled confidentially. If the information you provide relates to disclosable conduct, provisions under the Public Interest Disclosure (PID) Act 2013 may be available to you.

• Procedures for Dealing with Public Interest Disclosures

Contact Us

For more information or if you wish to report suspected fraud and corruption, please email fraud@education.gov.au or call the Fraud and Corruption Hotline on 02 6121 5450 (where you can leave a detailed voicemail message and contact details) or the anonymous reporting tool, Whispli.