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Conflict of interest risks: 
lessons from the Victorian Ombudsman

Overview
The Victorian Ombudsman regularly sees poorly handled conflicts of interest causing big problems (and bad headlines!) for public organisations.
How can we ensure dealing with conflict of interest is part of doing business as usual?
One of our learnings is that knowledge of conflict of interest risks needs to be spread widely across organisations. All employees need to be alert to the dangers.
Everyone has private interests – it’s part of living our lives. As public sector employees we’re responsible for avoiding situations where these interests improperly influence our work.
Decisions tainted by a conflict of interest - big or small - eat away at integrity, expose us to accusations of unfairness (or worse) and risk outcomes which are not in the public interest.
How can we develop the right skills to know what to do to avoid or manage conflicts, and support each other in achieving transparent, impartial decision making?
 

Who should attend 
All public sector and local government employees.

Benefits from attending
Drawing from the Victorian Ombudsman’s experience, Victorian Public Sector Commission resources and local government guidance, you will:

• understand conflict of interest from a public sector perspective
• explore why it’s crucial for all levels of government to handle these issues well
• examine key considerations underpinning good decision making around conflicts of interest
• recognise private interests which may impact on your work
• practise a simple approach to identifying conflicts of interest using real life scenarios
• discuss good practice strategies for recording and managing conflicts of interest
• consider the importance of an ethical workplace to reinforce good decision making and unpack what this looks like in your context.

Facilitators

Marita Cullen - Program Coordinator and Facilitator, Victorian Ombudsman

Jenny Jackson - Senior Program Designer, Victorian Ombudsman

Watch this animation to understand more about private interests – what they are and how they may come into conflict with public duties.

Cost
$385 (GST inclusive)

Payment for registration is by Master Card or Visa (Terms and Conditions apply). We will email your tax receipt once we've received your payment. 

Contact Us

For all enquiries please contact Education Services on 03 9613 6100 or email education@ombudsman.vic.gov.au.