INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

KINGSTON CITY COUNCIL Speak Up Platform

The Victorian Auditor General’s Office audit into sexual harassment in Local Government in late 2020 highlighted where the sector needed to improve, including the need to improve access to reporting mechanisms. Separate audits of councils, including those assessing corruption and fraud controls, and staff surveys have indicated that incidents of misconduct may be underreported.

Committed to promoting organisational integrity and safety, Kingston City Council implemented an anonymous reporting line, the Speak Up! Platform. This unique software, the first known implementation of its kind in a local government, allows staff, volunteers, and Councillors to anonymously report misconduct while enabling Human Resources and Governance staff to engage in two-way communication with the reporter while protecting their anonymity.

Unlike other anonymous reporting tools, the two-way communication platform allows for further investigation, support, and greater opportunities for resolution. A dynamic system, the platform supports reports of any misconduct including inappropriate behaviour, sexual harassment, fraud, and corruption.

The solution was developed to address the risk to organisational culture and trust, aimed at supporting safety and integrity across the whole organisation. Its implementation saw increased access to the reporting of misconduct in a way that promoted safety and integrity, increasing trust for all staff, volunteers, Councillors, and – by extension – the community.