Whistleblower protections: Making the right call

What are whistleblower protections?

Whistleblowing plays a critical role in identifying misconduct, protecting organisations, and maintaining trust in the financial system. Individuals who speak up often hold key insights into illegal or unethical behaviour – but they also face significant personal and professional risks in doing so.

In response, Australia has strengthened its legal framework to better protect whistleblowers and encourage reporting. The current regime – largely shaped by the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Act – places clear obligations on organisations to support, protect, and properly handle disclosures.

For financial services professionals, understanding these protections is essential. Effective whistleblowing frameworks not only help detect wrongdoing early, but also strengthen governance, improve culture, and reduce regulatory risk.

About our Course

Whistleblower protections: Making the right call provides a practical and up-to-date overview of Australia’s whistleblowing regime and its application within financial services organisations.

This course explores the purpose and importance of whistleblowing, ASIC’s expectations, and the obligations imposed on companies and their leaders. It also examines real-world case studies, enforcement actions, and regulatory insights to help you understand how whistleblower frameworks operate in practice.

You’ll also gain a global perspective, with comparisons to whistleblower regimes in the US, UK, EU, Singapore, and New Zealand – helping you contextualise Australia’s approach and identify best practices.

Program Content

  • What whistleblowing is and why it is important
  • ASIC’s role and guidance on whistleblower programs
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Act
  • Key definitions: eligible whistleblowers and recipients
  • Obligations to implement and maintain whistleblower policies
  • Penalties, protections, and enforcement actions
  • International comparisons of whistleblower regimes
  • Best practice approaches beyond minimum compliance

Learning Outcomes

  • Articulate the importance of whistleblowers in combating misconduct
  • Understand obligations under Australia’s whistleblowing legislation
  • Identify who qualifies as an eligible whistleblower and recipient
  • Explain how whistleblower protections operate in practice
  • Compare Australia’s regime with international frameworks
  • Apply best practices to develop and maintain an effective whistleblower policy

What you will learn

Who is this course for?

  • Compliance Managers
  • Responsible Managers
  • Senior Managers
  • Financial services professionals involved in governance, risk, and compliance

Units of Competency

Pre-requisite

Recognition of Prior Learning

Certification

You will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. It will be available online for you to download and print immediately.

ASIC-supervised licensees: Regulation
FAS-supervised licensees: Regulatory compliance and consumer protection

Explore our Financial Services CPD

Our short course topics are also included in our annual subscription Financial Services CPD library.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Our CPD short courses are self-paced with online learning resources & on-going support.
  • You have up to 8 weeks to complete the learning and assessment requirements for your CPD short course.
  • Experienced professionals can complete in less time.

Our CPD short courses are assessed by a short open book multiple-choice exam.

To get started, either
  • Purchase your course online. (If checking out for your team, you can add multiple courses to the cart.) OR
  • Contact Us to arrange an invoice
Please note: Online orders may take up to 1 business day to be processed and for you to receive your course login details.  

To get started, either:
  • Purchase course/s online. (You can add multiple courses to the cart.) Please note: Online orders may take up to 1 business day to be processed and for your team to receive their course login details.
OR
Contact us for your Corporate Solution.
What will I learn in this workshop?2026-07-15T18:59:10+10:00

The workshop combines regulatory updates with practical compliance guidance, helping Responsible Managers better understand their obligations and strengthen their governance framework.

Topics include:

Credit regulation and licensing

Understand the current regulatory framework governing Australian Credit Licensees and ASIC’s expectations of Responsible Managers.

The role and responsibilities of a Responsible Manager

Explore what ASIC expects Responsible Managers to do in practice and how to effectively discharge your responsibilities.

Regulatory priorities

Understand the emerging issues and compliance risks currently attracting regulatory attention.

Recent ASIC regulatory outcomes

Review recent enforcement actions and regulatory outcomes with a focus on the role Responsible Managers played – and the lessons every licensee should learn.

Accountability and governance

Strengthen your oversight, governance and compliance framework through practical examples and proven approaches.

Managing your ongoing obligations

Learn practical tips for staying across your obligations, maintaining effective records and meeting your reporting responsibilities.

Financial Education Professionals acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.