CQUniversity Annual Report - Central Queensland University

CQUniversity ANNUAL REPORT 201253VOLUNTARY CODE OFBEST PRACTICE FOR THEGOVERNANCE OF AUSTRALIANUNIVERSITIESThe University Council adopted the Voluntary Code of Best Practicefor the Governance of Australian Universities at its September 2011meeting. The purpose of the Code, and its 14 principles, is to ensuremembers of the Council have a good understanding of their roles andduties, and to foster transparency and accountability in the governancearrangements of the University by strengthening performanceevaluation practices. The University undertakes an annual reviewof its compliance with the Code to ensure ongoing compliance andfurther strengthening of governance practices. At 31 December 2012,the University continued to be compliant with the requirements of theCode, and had identifi ed two areas where further improvements couldbe made to enact the full spirit of the Code.FUNCTIONS ANDCONSTITUTIONSThe University is established and derives its functions and powers byvirtue of the Central Queensland University Act 1998 (the Act). The Actestablishes the University as a body corporate, with a seal. It may sueand be sued in its corporate name.FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITYSection 5 of the Central Queensland University Act 1998 outlines theUniversity’s functions, which are:a. to provide education at university standardb. to provide facilities for, and encourage, study and researchc. to encourage the advancement and development of knowledge,and its application to government, industry, commerce and thecommunityd. to provide courses of study or instruction (at the levels ofachievement the council considers appropriate) to meet the needsof the communitye. to confer higher education awardsf. to disseminate knowledge and promote scholarshipg. to provide facilities and resources for the wellbeing of theuniversity’s staff, students and other persons undertaking coursesat the universityh. to exploit commercially, for the university’s benefi t, a facility orresource of the university, including, for example, study, researchor knowledge, or the practical application of study, research orknowledge, belonging to the university, whether alone or withsomeone else, andi. to perform other functions given to the university under this oranother Act.CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY ACT1998No changes were made to the Central Queensland UniversityAct 1998 in 2012.STATUTORY OBLIGATIONSThe higher education sector is a dynamic environment, andcontinues to undergo significant legislative change that impactson the University. The University, through the University Secretary,continues to progress its compliance accountability framework toensure it meets its key obligations under those laws, regulations,codes and organisational standards that are applicable toCQUniversity. Reporting of compliance practices and the keyrisks associated with non-compliance are presented to the Audit,Compliance and Risk Committee. The key statutory obligations areshown below.COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNGPEOPLE AND CHILD GUARDIAN ACT 2000The Commission for Children and Young People and ChildGuardian Act 2000 establishes a regime requiring all employeesand volunteers working with children and young people to obtaina Positive Suitability Notice (known as a Blue Card). CQUniversityrequires all staff in certain categories (such as Student Counseling)to hold Blue Cards as a condition of their employment.EDUCATION SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS(ESOS) ACT 2000 (CWLTH)Under the authority of the Commonwealth’s ESOS Act 2000, thereviewed and updated National Code of Practice for RegistrationAuthorities and Providers of Education and Training to OverseasStudents (The National Code) was implemented on 1 July 2007. TheUniversity made significant policy reviews at that time to ensurecompliance. The Code provides nationally consistent standards forthe conduct of registered higher education providers in relation to theprovision of education to international students and the registration oftheir courses.FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 2009The University continues to monitor compliance with the FinancialAccountability Act 2009 and the related Financial and PerformanceManagement Standard 2009. Internal Audit performs a review offinancial policies and procedures on a quadrennial basis to assure theAudit, Compliance and Risk Committee of Council that the University iscompliant with the legislation.PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE ACT 2010This Act came into effect on 1 January 2011, replacing theWhistleblowers Protection Act 1994. The Public Interest Disclosure Actrequires disclosures to be reported to the Public Service Commission,rather than in our Annual Report.PUBLIC SECTOR ETHICS ACT 1994The CQUniversity Code of Conduct reaffirms the University’s commitmentto the ethical principles set out in the Queensland Public Sector EthicsAct 1994. The Code goes beyond the Act’s emphasis on good publicadministration to demonstrate how ethical principles are fundamentalOUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE