The Australian Film Television and Radio School Whistleblower Hotline is an independent and confidential service to receive information relating to improper conduct and supports our principles and ethics.

Any breaches of the Code of Conduct, related policies, and issues that may adversely affect AFTRS. This may include any criminal offence, breach of legal obligation, unsafe behaviour, and harassment or bullying. (see policy for full details)

AFTRS believes that all employees and other stakeholders should be able to assist in ensuring AFTRS maintains its integrity as a Commonwealth Statutory Authority. AFTRS is adopting best practice in this aspect of corporate governance and will be compliant with international and Australian corporate governance standards.

AFTRS has engaged an independent consultant to manage the receipt, recording and reporting of serious misconduct. The STOPline is an independent, confidential and impartial conduit for information that enables the reporting of corrupt or improper conduct. STOPline has people experienced in handling sensitive information from stakeholders. Details of how you can make contact are listed below.

STOPline is an Australian company which specialises in providing integrity/whistleblowing services. It has been operating for over 10 years and assists listed and private companies and local, state and Commonwealth public sector bodies. Further details are available at www.stopline.com.au.

No. Your call to the STOPline can be totally anonymous and the staff of STOPline will not ask for any personal details. You may volunteer the information confidentially to STOPline only if you desire or you can be overt. If you do not wish to remain confidential from your entity, this information may be provided to the Disclosure Officer at AFTRS. If you choose to remain anonymous STOPline will issue a confidential reference and password should you wish to seek the status of your disclosure at some later date.

The Whistleblower Policy requires all disclosures to be treated with a high level of confidentiality. This includes sanctions by the entity for reprisal or other detrimental action against a person making a disclosure. AFTRS has appointed the STOPline to enhance confidentiality within AFTRS with respect to the procedures

The STOPline enables employees and contractors to report in good faith, suspected misconduct via telephone, email, internet, facsimile or mail, anonymously if you wish, to an independent organisation with trained staff who will receive your concerns confidentially and provide the confidential information to the Disclosure Officer at AFTRS. The program then places procedural requirements on dealing with and finalising the outcome of the disclosure.

You can telephone the STOPline on 1300 30 45 50 (inAustralia) during business hours (0800 – 1800 Mon –Fri AEST) to speak with a trained STOPline interviewer. Any messages left will be responded to within one working day. You can also send your disclosure via the internet, email, facsimile or mail.

The strength of the STOPline is that all allegations will be professionally managed by trained STOPline staff. The experience of STOPline is that vexatious calls occur very infrequently.  The Decision Maker may decline to investigate the matter if satisfied that the disclosure is trivial, frivolous or vexatious.

Yes. You will be kept advised about the status of the report, decisions made regarding how the matter is to be handled, timeframes that apply and the result of any investigation and action taken. If you are totally anonymous, you must initiate contact to receive feedback.

Where a person who makes a disclosure is implicated in the misconduct, AFTRS will use all reasonable efforts to protect the individual from reprisals; however the act of reporting improper conduct may not shield the person from the reasonable consequences flowing from any involvement in serious misconduct.

Full details are available https://www.aftrs.edu.au/about/corporate–governance/policies-for-staff.aspx

You can make contact with the STOPline by;

The Whistleblower policy and the Hotline are not meant to replace the normal means via management of addressing any concerns about illegal or unethical conduct. However, if you are not comfortable with normal communication channels, then STOPline is available. Contact persons and relevant policies have been identified to assist individuals.

Complaints and Grievance Summary Guide