A/1.3 Compliance

Policy Owner	Governance Manager, Governance, Legal and Performance
Approval Date	25/05/2020
Approval Authority	Council
Date of Next Review	01/06/2023

1.3.1 Purpose
1.3.2 Application
1.3.3 Roles and responsibilities
1.3.4 Compliance Management System
1.3.5 Non-compliance and reporting
1.3.6 Definitions
1.3.7 Delegations
Related Documents
Modification History

1.3.1 Purpose

QUT is committed to the management of its compliance obligations as an integral and embedded part of all its activities. Effective management of QUT’s compliance obligations, through a risk-based approach, ensures that the University's strategic direction and corporate objectives are pursued in a lawful and sustainable manner.

Consistent with principles of good governance, QUT has a responsibility to identify and comply with all relevant laws, regulations and other externally imposed requirements, e.g. higher education standards or codes of relevant industry or regulatory bodies. QUT achieves this through the implementation of a University-wide compliance management system based on ISO 19600:2014: Compliance management systems.

Top

1.3.2 Application

The QUT compliance management system applies to all QUT activities to which external compliance obligations are relevant.

Top

1.3.3 Roles and responsibilities

Position	Responsibility
All staff	comply with compliance obligations relevant to their position and duties, while undertaking their duties, in accordance with the QUT Staff Code of Conduct (B/8.1), and the principal of respect for the law
Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar	oversees the development and implementation of a compliance management system, and designate primary responsible officers for each compliance obligation
Primary responsible officer	Is the senior officer with accountability, responsibility and authority for coordination and management of appropriate compliance risk management activities for their particular compliance obligation(s), including to: raise awareness and understanding of their compliance obligation(s) and the development and implementation of compliance risk management activities (including training, processes and procedures) ensure that adequate resources are allocated to enable appropriate and effective management of the compliance risk, including the ongoing monitoring and review of the adequacy and effectiveness of compliance risk management activities appoint secondary responsible officers (where appropriate) oversee continuous improvement activities, including remedial actions where necessary
Secondary responsible officers	develop and implement processes and procedures to address or mitigate compliance risks on a day-day basis, for a particular compliance obligation
Director, Governance, Legal and Performance	develops, approves and implements a program for the management of compliance risk at the University provides support and collaborates with primary responsible officers to raise awareness of compliance obligations, and assisting in the development and implementation of compliance risk management activities by responsible officers monitors laws, regulations and other relevant requirements, including identification of new obligations or material changes to existing obligations provides advice (including statutory interpretation) on new and existing compliance obligations establishes and maintains a Register of Compliance Obligations and approves the entries in the Register facilitates annual reporting as to the management of compliance obligations and the development and implementation of compliance risk management activities reports annually to Risk and Audit Committee on the implementation of the Compliance Management System
Risk and Audit Committee	assesses the adequacy and effectiveness of the University’s internal controls, including the risk management and compliance frameworks in accordance with the Risk and Audit Committee charter (A/3.3) receives on behalf of Council, an annual report and any ad hoc reports as required and identifies and requests follow up action on any issues of concern of non-compliance

Top

1.3.4 Compliance Management System

Key elements of QUT's Compliance Management System are the:

identification and management of the University's obligations in a Register of Compliance Obligations, taking account of the purpose and objectives of the University and internal and external issues and stakeholders
allocation of roles, accountability, responsibility and authority to individuals within the relevant operational areas for ensuring appropriate compliance risk management of obligations
risk assessment and risk rating of obligations, in particular, as part of the annual planning process
development of actions integrated into operational requirements, processes and procedures to address or mitigate compliance risks in a proportional way reflecting the level of compliance risk exposure
commitment to compliance as an organisational value in line with the QUT Staff Code of Conduct (B/8.1)
promoting awareness of obligations and training of staff on compliance with specific obligations
assessment of how well QUT meets its obligations, and where and how it could improve, including identification of any non-compliance and remedial action taken
fostering continuous improvement in compliance risk management across QUT to ensure compliance obligations are met
regular reporting to Risk and Audit Committee.

The Compliance Management System (QUT staff access only) provides detailed information on the management of compliance obligations, the compliance risk management process, the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, and documentation and reporting requirements.

Top

1.3.5 Non-Compliance and reporting

At the time of occurrence, all incidents of non-compliance must be assessed. Where a non-compliance incident is assessed as having a consequence that is higher than insignificant (as described in the Enterprise Risk Consequence Matrix), the issue must be reported to the primary responsible officer. This officer will determine if adjustments to compliance procedures and risk treatments are required, and whether an ad hoc report should be made to Risk and Audit Committee.

The primary responsible officer is also required to oversee and monitor any remedial action or adjustments to compliance risk management activities (including policies, procedures and processes) which may be required in light of the non-compliance incident.

A summary of all incidents of non-compliance must be included in annual reporting.

Top

1.3.6 Definitions

Compliance risk management is the program of activities to address or mitigate compliance risk, including the establishment of culture, policy, procedures and processes.

Compliance risk is the risk of exposure to legal or financial penalties or other material losses (including reputational damage) due to a failure to prevent, detect or reduce the undesired or unacceptable effects of non-compliance with external laws, regulations and other externally imposed requirements.

Top

1.3.7 Delegations

Refer to Register of Authorities and Delegations (C004, VC001, VC002, VC003, VC148, VC171, VC189, VC190) (QUT staff access only).

Top

Modification History

Date	Sections	Source	Details
25.05.20	All	Director, Governance and Legal Services	Periodic review – modernised template and minor editorial changes only
15.06.16	All	Council	Revised policy following review of compliance program
20.02.15	All	Policy and Compliance Manager	Periodic review - minor editorial changes only
25.08.10	All	Council	Periodic review - minor editorial changes only
18.07.07	All	Council	Revised policy (endorsed by Audit and Risk Management Committee 20.06.07)
21.08.02	All	Council	New policy

Top