Rural and regional outreach program

The next rural and regional outreach visit will take place in the New England Region from 6 to 10 May 2019.

The Rural and Regional Outreach Program commenced in 2001 to bring corruption prevention advice and resources on-site to non-metropolitan areas of NSW. The ICAC conducts two comprehensive Rural and Regional Outreach visits each year.

Each visit includes training workshops for public sector managers and supervisors, a community leaders' event and briefing sessions.

These visits aim to:

raise understanding of corruption risks
provide practical corruption prevention information
give advice on how to report corrupt activities.

OUTREACH WORKSHOPS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

ICAC officers run free workshops for public officials on:

ICAC's powers, functions and resources for the public sector
identifying corruption risks
corruption prevention in procurement
putting corruption prevention strategies in place
managing internal reporting systems
fact finding and conducting internal investigations within a public sector agency/council.

Supervisors and middle-to-senior local and state government managers should attend the workshops. Although these workshops are free, spaces are limited so it is always good to book early. If attendance is not possible on the day, please arrange for another staff member to attend.

Workshop	Date	Time	Location	Status
Corruption prevention for managers A practical workshop which focuses on developing an understanding of the nature of corruption, how and why corruption occurs and what managers can do to prevent it. Find out more	Tuesday 7 May	9:00am - 4:30pm	Arimidale CBD	REGISTER NOW
Corruption prevention in procurement and contract management This workshop assists managers and staff with responsibility for procurement activities to identify where the weaknesses in their systems and opportunities for corruption may be. It will also help participants understand what they can do to prevent corruption in the procurement context. Find out more	Tuesday 7 May	9:00am - 4:30pm	Armidale CBD	REGISTER NOW
Fact-finder: An introduction to conducting a fact finding investigation (for non-investigators) This is an introductory workshop for those who may be required to conduct an internal fact-finding investigation into a complaint or allegations of staff wrongdoing, including misconduct or corrupt conduct. The workshop has a practical focus and includes how to plan, conduct, conclude and report on an internal investigation. Attention will also be given to the principles that underpin investigations, including confidentiality and procedural fairness. Find out more	Wednesday 8 May	9:00am - 4:30pm	Armidale CBD	REGISTER NOW
Corruption prevention for planning professionals This awareness-raising workshop is specifically designed for town planners and related public officials working within the NSW planning system. It helps these professionals understand what constitutes corrupt conduct and where opportunities for corruption are likely to be hidden. Find out more	Wednesday 8 May	9:00am - 4:00pm	Arimdale CBD	REGISTER NOW
Good governance in small boards Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) can face similar challenges: their board members are usually voluntary, they often have limited staff numbers, and are expected to meet varied responsibilities in their communities. The workshop covers a range of topics and will include discussion about how LALC and NGO board members and staff all play a role in building good governance in their organisations. Find out more	Wednesday 8 May	9:00am - 12:30pm	Armidale CBD	REGISTER NOW
Public interest disclosures management workshop This three-hour workshop provides an overview of your organisation’s obligations under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994. It covers the specific responsibilities of the nominated officers and executives, and discusses strategies for managing parties involved in the disclosure. It also outlines the role of the NSW Ombudsman in relation to this Act. This workshop is designed for staff and managers from NSW public authorities, including those responsible for coordinating and managing the public interest disclosure process.	Thursday 9 May	1:00pm - 4:00pm	Armidale CBD	To register for this training, please email training@ombo.nsw.gov.au or telephone the Community Education and Training Unit on 9286 1000.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

The Commission hosts a Community Leaders Forum as part of each outreach visit. Prominent members of the local community are invited to attend the forum and learn about the work of the ICAC from members of our executive. Attendees also have the opportunity to ask questions about the Commission's role and its functions in combating public sector corruption in NSW. The ICAC also invites a speaker from other integrity organisations such as the NSW Ombudsman to address the forum.

VISITS TO LOCAL COUNCILS AND STATE AGENCIES

Our teams of ICAC officers travel to locations around NSW as part of the Rural and Regional Outreach Program to talk with regional offices of state agencies and to local councils. The discussions are informal and cover a wide range of corruption resistance related issues. There is the opportunity to ask questions, raise problems and discuss relevant events with ICAC staff.

ELIGIBILITY AND ALLOCATION OF PLACES

Places are strictly limited. Workshops are only open to NSW public officials from an organisation within the ICAC's jurisdiction. Places are normally allocated on a first-come-first-served basis with a maximum of two participants accepted from an individual agency, however preference may be given to officers from agencies that have been recently investigated, officers with high-risk functions or people who have not attended an ICAC corruption prevention workshop in the past two years. Each workshop has a specific target audience and applications from people outside the relevant target group will not normally be accepted.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you are unable to attend a workshop please advise us as soon as possible. You may substitute another officer to attend the workshop. Failure to attend without adequate notice or to send an appropriate substitute results in a limited opportunity being wasted.

PRIVACY:

The information on the registration form is for the purpose ofadministration of workshops. Please visit our Privacy page for moreinformation about how the ICAC deals with personal information.

INCORRECT OR MISLEADING INFORMATION:

By registering, you declare that all the information you have provided is true and correct to the best of your knowledge.

Enquiries and contact details

Email us for more information on the ICAC's Rural and Regional Outreach Program.