One of the most common probity risks is the giving and receiving of gifts, benefits and hospitality. It’s important to ensure that health services are incorporate these issues into their usual enterprise risk management, reporting or other relevant work activities and programs.
In October 2016 the VPSC issued the framework, guidelines and resources for all Victorian public sector employees. This details minimum accountabilities that are binding under Instruction 3.4.11 of the Instructions supporting the Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance 2016.
The VPSC guidelines provide a sample policy and register, including identification of what information may be withheld and what is required to be published. HPV is also required to publish a register of gifts, benefits and hospitality, and an accompanying procedure can be found here.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has also previously requested that health services comply with these requirements and provide them confirmation of the publication of policy and register documents, including a link to the specific web page to corporate.integrity@dhhs.vic.gov.au. Each register should cover the period from the time the public sector organisation reviewed its policies against the VPSC policy framework and the end of the current financial year. From 2017-18, each register published should then cover the current and previous financial year .