Developing an integrity strategy can start an important conversation about how to embed a pro-integrity culture within an organisation. It also helps meet compliance obligations. Ideally, integrity strategies bring together the different internal areas responsible for workforce, governance and accountability, and provide a pathway for agencies to uplift their internal integrity maturity by implementing clear, actionable steps.
It is important to delegate responsibility for implementation and oversight of the Strategy and determine a fixed time period for implementation (these vary from 2-5 years). For example, the Department of Finance’s Integrity Framework was established by its Executive Board and overseen by the Deputy Secretary Business Enabling Services.
DITRDCA Integrity Strategy 2022-24
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) Integrity Strategy seeks to engage and empower DITRDCA’s people to:
- manage integrity risks
- role model behaviours of the highest integrity
- instill a culture of doing the right thing
- have difficult conversations about unethical behaviour when required
The Strategy contains an Integrity Framework which brings together DITRDCA’s key areas of activity, including people, procurement, grants, federation funding agreements, governance and policy, and regulation. It is a living document, supported by an Action Plan with specific actions to uplift overall integrity maturity.
DITRDCA undertakes reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of its Integrity Framework, particularly in the event of significant change to the department’s structure, priorities or risk profile. DITRDCA’s approach to integrity, and integrity-related risks, is included in its Corporate Plan.