Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University

CSCS and Public Interest Disclosures

A public interest disclosure (PID) is a disclosure about serious wrongdoing in the public sector (including education), that serves the public interest. This is sometimes referred to as whistleblowing.


Charles Sturt University and its controlled entities foster and promote a culture that encourages and supports staff to report serious wrongdoing. This is essential in maintaining the integrity of the University and the public sector. The official framework that protects this proactive culture is:

Under section 81(2) of the Public Interest Disclosures Act (“PID Act”), an agency may arrange for another agency to exercise their functions under the PID Act on their behalf.

On 19 April 2024, in accordance with section 81(2) of the PID Act, Charles Sturt Campus Services Limited (“CSCS”), a controlled entity of Charles Sturt University, has authorised Charles Sturt University to:

  • exercise CSCS’s functions (as an agency under the PID Act) under the PID Act on behalf of CSCS; and
  • delegate all functions of CSCS including:
    • receiving voluntary PIDs,
    • dealing with voluntary PIDs by investigating relevant serious wrongdoing,
    • the provision of training under s48 of the PID Act and providing the annual return to the NSW Ombudsman.

(as an “agency” under the PID Act) to the Vice-Chancellor as the University’s “head of agency”, except for responsibilities under sections 34, 61 and 80 of the PID Act.

In accordance with section 81(4)(b), Charles Sturt University has notified the NSW Ombudsman of this arrangement.

Under section 81(3) of the PID Act, an agency may arrange for an entity (which is not an agency) to exercise 1 or more of the following functions under the PID Act on behalf of the agency:

a) the function of receiving voluntary public interest disclosures,

b) the function of dealing with voluntary public interest disclosures by investigating relevant serious wrongdoing,

c) the provision of training under section 48.

On 03 March 2025, in accordance with section 81(3) of the PID Act, Charles Sturt University, acting on behalf of Charles Sturt Campus Services Limited (“CSCS”), a controlled entity of Charles Sturt University, arranged for the function of dealing with voluntary public interest disclosures by investigating relevant serious wrongdoing to the following entities:

  1. BDO Services Pty Ltd
  2. Centium Pty Ltd
  3. Holding Redlich N.A. Ackroyd & Others
  4. HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
  5. KPMG
  6. Noble Shore Pty Ltd
  7. O’Connor Marsden & Associates Pty Ltd
  8. PKF Integrity Services (BMNS) Pty Ltd
  9. Risk-E Business Consultants Pty Ltd
  10. Riskwise Consulting Pty Ltd
  11. RSM Australia Pty Ltd trading as RSM
  12. Terri Janke and Company Pty Ltd
  13. PACK Investigations Pty Ltd ATF (as trustee for) Weir Trading Trust T/as Weir Consulting (National)
  14. Omedia Pty Ltd, trading as Workdynamic Australia

In accordance with section 81(4)(b), Charles Sturt University has notified the NSW Ombudsman of this arrangement.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2022 provides multiple pathways to report serious wrongdoing. These include speaking to a disclosure officer, your manager, and other agencies, such as integrity agencies.

Find out more about Public Interest Disclosures and how to report serious wrongdoing.

find Out More about Public Interest Disclosures