The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) began an evaluation of TAFE SA today (4 April), examining the education provider’s practices, policies and procedures.
Commissioner for the ICAC, Ann Vanstone said TAFE SA, as the provider of vocational education and training services to more than 60,000 students, performed an important function in public administration and it was essential that effective systems were in place to prevent corruption.
Commissioner Vanstone said the evaluation was not concerned with matters relating to the quality of TAFE SA’s courses.
“The Independent Commission Against Corruption may evaluate a public authority’s practices, policies and procedures with a view to advancing comprehensive and effective systems for preventing or minimising corruption in public administration,” she said.
“Unlike an investigation, an evaluation is not directed at specific allegations of impropriety.
“Rather, an evaluation allows the Commission to examine a public authority’s practices, policies and procedures, highlighting those which properly safeguard against corruption and identifying any weaknesses or opportunities for improvement.”
Commissioner Vanstone said the evaluation’s terms of reference included the extent to which TAFE SA’s governance framework guarded against the risks of corruption and if its practices and facilities management provided effective controls against corruption.
The terms of reference also include evaluating the manner in which TAFE SA claimed and reported the payments it received from Government and whether its processes were adequate to guard against inappropriate enrolments, assessments, qualifications and awards.
Commissioner Vanstone said she intended to deliver a report to Parliament in early 2023 and information about how to make a submission is published on the ICAC’s website.
