Annual Report 2023-24

      Governance                                                                                                          Ethics




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Governance and Disclosures
      Framework                                                                                                           and Integrity
      Noosa Council is a dynamic organisation that provides      fair decision-making. The framework is intended for      In accordance with sections 12M(2) and 23 of the Public       On 26 October 2023, the Executives, Managers,
      various services to the Noosa Shire community. In          councillors, management, and employees of Council.       Sector Ethics Act 1994, Council is required to have           Supervisors and Coordinators participated in a tailored
      doing so, it is important that our activities, actions,                                                             developed and implemented a Code of Conduct based             Governance, Ethics and Integrity Training face-to-face
      policies, strategies, and procedures demonstrate strong    This includes the following governance principles:       on the following ethical principles and values:               session delivered by external experts which covered the
      governance and leadership.                                  — Vision and Culture                                     — integrity and impartiality                                 following areas:
                                                                  — Roles and Relationships                                — promoting the public good                                   — Governance Framework
      On 21 July 2022, Council adopted a new Governance           — Decision-making and Management                         — commitment to the system of government, and                 — Conflicts of interest
      Framework that provides a holistic and strategic            — Accountability                                         — accountability and transparency.                            — Fraud and corruption
      overview of our current governance practices across                                                                                                                                — Public Interest Disclosures
      Council. The framework also has guidelines that ensure     Council’s Governance Framework is available to view on   Council’s employees are bound by the standards of              — Integrity issues in local government
      processes and practices facilitate effective, robust and   Council’s website.                                       behaviour set in Council’s Employee Code of Conduct            — Case studies and ethical dilemmas
                                                                                                                          (“the Code”). Agreeing to work in compliance of the
                                                                                                                          Code is a mandatory requirement of all positions.             The training was well received and assisted the
                                                                                                                                                                                        leadership levels of Council in further understanding
                                                                                                                          During this financial year, Council continued to provide      their obligations, ethics principles, and legislative
                                                                                                                          online e-learning and face-to-face training and               standards of compliance.
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                                                                                                                          education to all employees on its expectations regarding
                                                                                                                          conduct through inductions of new staff members and           To further support Council’s governance, ethics and
                                                                                                                          re-inductions of existing staff. This approach has made       integrity framework, several staff from the Governance
                                                                                                                          it easier for employees to complete timely training and       Branch completed targeted training on public interest
                                                                                                                          testing to ensure they understand their responsibilities to   disclosures, privacy and ethics.
                                                                                                                          adhere to the Code.
                                                                                                                                                                                        The effective implementation of Council’s Governance
                                                                                                                          For this reporting period, 72% of employees (new              Framework is reliant on the commitment, skills and
                                                                                                                          and current) completed online Employee Code of                professionalism of Council’s employees and elected
                                                                                                                          Conduct training.                                             members. Council will continue to deliver regular training
                                                                                                                                                                                        and awareness sessions as part of its commitment to
                                                                                                                          Additional targeted online and face-to-face training          good governance for Council and the community.
                                                                                                                          modules on elements of the Code was provided to
                                                                                                                          all staff throughout the financial year on the following
                                                                                                                          topics:




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Noosa Council Annual Report 23/24
                                                                                                                           — Ethics and Integrity refresh
                                                                                                                           — Governance Framework
                                                                                                                           — Fraud and Corruption prevention refresh
                                                                                                                           — Conflicts of Interest