annual report/2006 - University of Melbourne

Disclosures
Two protected disclosures on a
common issue were made in 2005.
The Ombudsman determined them
to be public interest disclosures. The
University investigated the matters in
2006 and reported its finding to the
Ombudsman together with a series of
recommendations as to actions it would
take. The University reported to the
Ombudsman on the outcome of those
measures and the Ombudsman advised
that the matter had been finalised.
In 2006, a staff member made a
protected disclosure based on the
alleged misconduct of another staff
member. The Ombudsman determined
it to be a public interest disclosure.
The matter was investigated, and the
University advised the Ombudsman of a
series of recommendations as to future
action. Most of the recommendations
have been implemented, but the matter
has yet to be finalised. Advice on the
outcome of this complaint will be
reported in the year that the matter is
concluded.
In February 2006, a staff member
made a complaint about a range of
matters which he subsequently stated
was a whistleblower complaint. The
Ombudsman was advised of the
complaint. The staff member later made
a complaint of detrimental action by the
University directly to the Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman has determined that
the complaint is a protected disclosure,
sought University advice as to whether
the matters complained about constitute
a public interest disclosure, and
indicated his intention to investigate
the allegation of detrimental action.
The outcome of that investigation and
any consequent actions, either by the
Ombudsman or the University, will
be reported in the year in which the
investigation is concluded.
4: Complaints Made
to and Investigated by
the Ombudsman
Two students lodged complaints
with the Ombudsman in 2006, one
concerning retrospective alteration
of a marking guide after it had been
used to mark students’ papers, and the
other concerning the processes used
to determine a student’s assessment
and the handling of her appeal against
the result. In the first matter the
Ombudsman found that the marking
guide had been amended after results
had been finalised, and recommended
that the University review its processes
in relation to the content and use of
such guides. He also recommended
that the University consult with the
Public Records Office to ensure its
policy as it relates to the destruction of
examination script books complies with
its obligations under the Public Records
Act 1973. The University accepted both
recommendations. In the matter related
to a student’s assessment and her
subsequent appeal, the Ombudsman
found that the University’s actions were
reasonable in the circumstances and
made no recommendations.
No staff member lodged a grievance
with the Ombudsman in 2006.
Grievance Procedures and
Complaints to the Ombudsman
The University developed a set of
student grievance procedures in 2003,
taking into account comments from
the Victorian Government review
of governance in universities. The
procedures were reviewed again in early
2004 in the light of some experience
at using them and were amended
to include some clarification about
further processes of appeal to outside
bodies. The current student grievance
procedures are on the University’s web
site at: www.services.unimelb.edu.
au/grievances/
The grievance procedures in the
University of Melbourne 2006
Enterprise Bargaining Agreement apply
to all staff grievances, except where
specific procedures exist. Specific
processes exist for handling grievances
relating to sexual harassment or
unlawful discrimination. Staff members
may also be aggrieved by decisions
made by the University in relation
to promotion, reclassification of general
staff positions and disciplinary penalties
for misconduct and unsatisfactory
performance. Specific review
committees exist to handle each of
these issues. Current staff grievance
procedures are on the University’s
web site at: www.hr.unimelb.edu.
au/advicesupport/grievance
The University’s grievance web sites
have been further developed to provide
greater assistance to staff and students
wishing to utilise grievance procedures.
5. Statement on the
University’s Risk
Management Strategy
The management of risk is a core
framework component of the
University’s Accountability Structure
which integrates annual cycles of
strategic and operational planning,
reporting and quality assurance. The
University seeks to alert staff to the
ongoing importance of monitoring
and addressing risk in all areas of
University activity.
A number of structures and processes
are in place for identifying and managing
risk. Senior Officers are assigned
accountability for designated areas
of risk. The Risk Management
Committee has responsibility for
monitoring the performance of
University Officers in managing risk
and for ensuring risk is managed in a
coordinated manner. Several Council
Committees exercise a governance
role on behalf of Council in ensuring
that designated risk accountabilities are
being properly exercised.
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The University of Melbourne Annual Report 2006