PID Awareness

It is important that all public officials know about the PID Act, how to report serious wrongdoing and what will happen when they do. It is also important that senior staff within agencies understand their responsibilities under the PID Act.

Agencies have a duty under the PID Act to ensure all public officials are aware of how to make a PID, their agency’s PID policy and that they may be able to take further action if they are dissatisfied with how the PID has been dealt with.

We have a range of videos to help to improve awareness and understanding of how to report serious wrongdoing and what public officials can expect when they make a report.

You can access the videos at the NSW Ombudsman YouTube page here.

Our office facilitated the first PID Awareness Week from 5-9 August 2024.

The week included virtual sessions for a range of audiences, including disclosure officers, managers, contractors, subcontractors and Local Aboriginal Land Councils. The sessions featured panel conversations and presentations, with opportunities for attendees to ask questions of panellists and speakers. The videos of each session can be accessed under each of the drop-down banners below.

Opening address

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

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 was 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

What is the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022?

This panel discussion introduces the key aspects of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. The panel discusses what they see as the important aspects of the PID Act and a speak up culture. Attendees were able 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

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 was 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.

The role of disclosure officers

Disclosure Officers have a range of important duties under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. This session was 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.

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 was 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

PID and Aboriginal Land Councils

Aboriginal Land Councils in NSW are classed as agencies under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022. This session was 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

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 was a chance to hear from the NSW Police Force and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), who discussed how the system works in practice and answered some of your questions.

Speakers

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

PID Awareness Week wrap up

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

The resources below are to help agencies to raise awareness of the importance of speaking up and reporting wrongdoing.

Fact sheets

• Act in the integrity of the public sector fact sheet
• Managers and the PID Act fact sheet
• Speak up in the public interest fact sheet

Fact sheet - Aboriginal Land Councils

• PID Act 2022 for NSWALC and LALCs Information sheet

Posters

• How to make a PID
• How to make a PID - with Disclosure Officers contact box
• Managers and the PID Act
• Managers and the PID Act - with Disclosure Officers contact box
• Speak up in the Public Interest
• Speak up in the Public Interest - with Disclosure Officers contact box
• The role of managers under the PID Act
• The role of managers under the PID Act - with Disclosure Officers contact box

Posters - Aboriginal Land Councils

• Speaking up is everyone's business
• Speak up for your community
• How to speak up in your LALC - with Disclosure Officers contact box
• How to speak up in NSWALC - with Disclosure Officers contact box

Overview of the PID Act 2022 information sheet

• Download information sheet