Fraud and Corruption

Fraud and Corruption Control and Reporting

The Australian Government defines fraud as ‘dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means’.

Corruption is any conduct that impacts the honest or impartial exercise of an official’s powers, or the performance of an official’s functions

Preventing fraud and corruption

We’re serious about preventing, detecting and dealing with fraud and corruption. We want to ensure that public monies are spent for their intended purpose. 

If you suspect someone may be committing fraud, you should report it. Even if you don't know for sure, we’re still interested.

Reporting suspicious behaviour

Anyone can report suspected fraud or corrupt conduct.

We encourage you to report suspicious behaviour. Reporting doesn’t take long. 

Some behaviours may seem suspicious but aren't fraudulent. Some might be mistakes or a misunderstanding. If mistakes are made, we need to know about them to fix them.

Please provide as much information as you can. Even a small amount of information can help.

Consider including:

  • Identifying details about the persons and/or organisations involved. Names, phone numbers, addresses, ABN and ACN numbers are all useful.
  • When the activity occurred, and for how long?
  • What happened?
  • Where did it occur?
  • How did you learn about the activity?
  • Why does it seem suspicious?
  • Who else have you reported this to?
  • Your best contact details.

How to report

You can:

General Manager, Professional Services Review, PO Box 74 Fyshwick ACT 2609

If you would like to make a report anonymously, it is best to send your report by post.

What we look at

We assess allegations about the agency and the performance of our functions. This can include fraud and corruption by:

  • our staff
  • service providers, contractors, or organised crime groups

Fraud by our employees or contractors may include:

  • theft of Commonwealth assets
  • staff collusion with service providers for kickbacks
  • unlawful or unauthorised release of information
  • giving false records or documents
  • charging for goods or services that are incomplete or not delivered
  • inflating invoices
  • manipulating recruitment or procurement processes
  • corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.

If you suspect our employees or contractors have acted in a dishonest way, you should report it You can report directly to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The commission will then investigate.

If you’re a current or former public official, you can also make a public interest disclosure (PID). Info on the PID scheme is available from the Commonwealth Ombudsman website and via PSR’s public interest disclosures page. 

What happens if you report suspected fraud?

The agency will assess each allegation of suspected fraud and generally refer matters to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.  Where allegations are found to be true there may be a range of options available including:

  • recovering overpaid funds,
  • taking other action for breach of contract
  • or pursuing a criminal fraud prosecution.

Protecting your privacy

The Privacy Act 1988 protects your personal information by law.  You can see how we handle personal information if we receive a report at the below privacy collection notice.

Privacy Collection Notice

Professional Services Review (PSR) is a small agency in the Commonwealth’s Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio.  We are required to take all reasonable measures to prevent, detect and respond to fraud and corruption relating to PSR. 

One of the mechanisms we have in place is an email and postal address, where a person can report to us if they suspect that fraud or corruption may have occurred within or against PSR.  If a report includes sensitive information, like a person’s criminal record or health information, then PSR collects this under Part VIID of the Crimes Act 1914.

If you make a report, you do not have to give us your name or contact details.  This may, however, make it more difficult for us to investigate the report.  You should also be aware that if you provide the report to us electronically, it may be possible in some cases for us to reidentify you.  While PSR does not routinely do this, we may pursue this option in serious circumstances, including if we are concerned about the safety of you or another person.

PSR may seek assistance from others to help us to deal with reports about possible fraud or corruption. This means, for example, that we may share personal information from a report with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Australian Federal Police, or another agency or organisation as part of investigating or taking action in relation to your report.

PSR does not routinely send personal information overseas.  You can find out more about how PSR handles personal information in our privacy policy, including how to contact us to make a privacy complaint, or get access to or correct your personal information. 

Queries, concerns and further information

Please contact us if you have any queries, concerns or require further information relating to privacy and the Professional Services Review.

Was this page helpful?
Professional Services Review (PSR) icon

Professional Services Review acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.