Guidance material

Guidelines for public interest disclosure welfare management

Guidelines for welfare management of anyone who makes a public interest disclosure.

It takes courage to speak up and make a disclosure about improper conduct by a public official or public body.

For the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (PID Act) to be effective, those who shine a spotlight on wrongdoing in public life need to be confident they will be protected from reprisals.

So too do those who cooperate as witnesses during investigations. When someone discloses wrongdoing in the workplace or by a public officer or public body, organisations need to respond quickly and appropriately.

These guidelines cover managing the welfare of:

  • a person who makes a public interest disclosure
  • a person who is a witness in an investigation of a public interest complaint
  • a person who is the subject of such an investigation.

These guidelines should be read in conjunction with IBAC's Guidelines for handling public interest disclosures.