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
