PID Awareness Week 2024

About the week

Public Interest Disclosure (PID) Awareness Week aims to raise awareness and understanding of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022, and the importance of a speak up culture for all public officials in NSW.

The week will include virtual sessions for a range of audiences, including disclosure officers, managers, contractors, subcontractors and Local Aboriginal Land Councils. The sessions will include panel conversations and presentations, with opportunities for attendees to ask questions of panellists and speakers.

NSW Ombudsman welcome

Paul Miller

It is important for public officials to speak up if they see serious wrongdoing, and that they know what to expect when they do.

Public Interest Disclosures (PID) Awareness Week is a chance for us to discuss and learn more about how to report wrongdoing, and how the PID Act works in practice to encourage and protect whistleblowers in the NSW public sector.

There will be a series of virtual sessions for all public servants over the week. Special streams will be available for particular audiences such as disclosures officers and managers. I encourage all public servants in NSW to register and get involved.

What’s on

Monday 5 August 2024 

10.00am - 10.20am      Opening address 

  • John Graham MLC, Special Minister of State
  • Paul Miller PSM, NSW Ombudsman
  • Louise Lazzarino, Deputy Ombudsman, Systems Oversight

Watch the opening address below.

11.00am - 12.00pm      The benefits of reporting wrongdoing

Research across Australia and globally has shown that internal reports are one of the most effective methods of identifying serious wrongdoing in the public and private sector. This session will be an opportunity to hear about what can happen when public officials speak up and report serious wrongdoing.

Speaker: Lewis Rangott, Executive Director Corruption Prevention, Independent Commission Against Corruption

Watch the session video below.

Tuesday 6 August 2024

12.30pm - 1.30pm      What is the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022

This panel discussion will introduce the key aspects of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. The panel will discuss what they see as the important aspects of the PID Act and a speak up culture. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions about reporting serious wrongdoing.

Panellists

  • The Hon John Hatzistergos AM, Chief Commissioner, Independent Commission Against Corruption
  • Paul Miller PSM, NSW Ombudsman
  • Matt Richards, A/Deputy Secretary, General Counsel The Cabinet Office

Watch the session video below.

2.30pm - 3.30pm      PID for contractors and subcontractors

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 provides protection to a range of people who report serious wrongdoing. This includes those providing services on behalf of agencies. This session is a chance for contractors, subcontractors, volunteers and others to hear from NSW Ombudsman PID staff, learn more about the PID Act and ask questions about reporting serious wrongdoing.

Watch the session video below.

Wednesday 7 August 2024

9.30am - 10.30am      The role of Disclosure Officers 

Disclosure Officers have a range of important duties under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. This session is an opportunity for disclosure officers to learn more about the PID Act, ask questions, and hear about some of the experiences of other disclosure officers across NSW.

Watch the session video below.

1.00pm - 2.00pm      Managers and the PID Act 2022

The introduction of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022 saw managers across the public sector take on a role to receive reports of serious wrongdoing. This session will be a chance for managers and supervisors to hear more about the requirements of their role, and ask questions about reporting serious wrongdoing in the public sector.

Speaker: Kieran Gregory, Principal Advisor, Public Service Commission

Watch the session video below.

2.30pm - 3.30pm      PIDs and Aboriginal Land Councils

Aboriginal Land Councils in NSW are classed as agencies under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. This session will be an opportunity for land councils to hear about the initial implementation of the PID Act across NSW, including some of the different approaches taken by land councils, and to ask questions.

Speaker: Councillor Raymond Kelly, Chairperson, NSW Aboriginal Land Council

Watch the session video below.

Thursday 8 August 2024

9.30am - 10.30am      Internal reports by NSW Police Force officers – how the system works

The Police Act 1990 creates an internal reporting framework for officers to report misconduct. This session will be a chance to hear from the NSW Police Force and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), who will talk about how the system works in practice and answer some of your questions.

Speakers

  • Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter, NSW Police Force
  • Commissioner Anina Johnson, Law Enforcement Conduct Commission

Watch the session video below.

Friday 9 August 2024

Community of Practice session

The meeting of the PID Community of Practice will be open to members.

2.00pm - 2.20pm      PID Awareness Week wrap up

This final session of PID Awareness Week will bring together the ideas and key themes shared across the webinars. The NSW Ombudsman Paul Miller and Deputy Ombudsman, Louise Lazzarino will discuss some of the key points and messages from participants, and address some of the questions raised by attendees.

Watch the session video below.

2:30pm      PID Awareness Week Closes

For more information, contact awarenessweek@ombo.nsw.gov.au