Fraud Awareness for Local Government (Australia)

When fraud comes to light, it is more likely to be detected by a tipoff from colleagues than by any other means..

Fraud exists in almost every workplace, including local government. It often goes undetected by employees. However, when fraud comes to light, it is more likely to be detected by a tip-off from colleagues than by any other means. The cost fraud brings to an organisation is enormous and rising every year. A recent global study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners found that in 2018 fraud resulted in over $9 billion in losses, with 22% of cases costing over $1 million. It is therefore crucial that staff in local government know how to recognise fraud and who to report it to. Prevalent fraud not only costs local government bodies their reputation but it also carries large fines and penalties for the individuals involved in corrupt practices. For example, under Australian law, attempting to bribe a public official in order to obtain a personal benefit, carries a maximum fine of $2,100,000. This course teaches staff and volunteers about the following:

• How to identify fraud in the workplace.
• The consequences of fraud for both the fraudster and the organisation.
• How to prevent fraud from occurring.
• How to report suspected fraud.

  Who is this training for? This training is especially suitable for those who work in fraud risk areas, such as: accounting, operations, sales, executive/ upper management, customer service and procurement. But all staff should be aware of fraud and know how to spot it – your staff are your first line of defence.

Course outline

• Module 1: Introduction to fraud
• Module 2: Internal fraud
• Module 3: External fraud
• Module 4: Identity fraud
• Module 5: Fraud risk management

You will have 90 days to complete this course.