The Conflicts of Interest Policy provides a framework for identifying and disclosing Personal Interests and the consequential managing and monitoring of Conflicts of Interest. The Policy applies to relevant Individuals that includes any person who is employed by the University (including through a subsidiary) or who represents the University or its interests in an official capacity (whether paid or voluntary) and includes staff, students, University Council and committee members, adjuncts, affiliated researchers, contractors, agents and volunteers.
Personal Interests refer to interests that may bring a benefit or disadvantage to a relevant Individual, or to another party (including financial interests, personal and family affiliations and associations) whom the relevant Individual may wish to benefit or disadvantage.
Conflict of Interest refer to conflicts (whether actual, potential or perceived) between performing an official University duty and a Personal Interest which does, or may, interfere with the proper performance of the duty.
Relevant Individuals are responsible for identifying any Personal Interests they may have that may constitute a Conflict of Interest and then subsequently disclosing the Personal Interest to the University by completing the relevant ECU Conflict of Interest Disclosure form.
Supervisors are responsible for reviewing a relevant Individual’s disclosure and for determining whether a conflict of interest exists. If a conflict of interest is identified, the supervisor and relevant Individual shall consider whether the conflict of interest can be managed through the implementation of relevant management actions. Agreed management actions, including any review schedules, must be recorded in the relevant Conflict of Interest Disclosure system and be submitted through the System to enable a review by Legal and Integrity.
Suppliers of goods and services (contractors) are required to inform the University of any Personal Interests they may have that could give rise to a Conflict of Interest with regard to a University procurement activity they are proposing to engage in. Suppliers shall use the “Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Form – Contractors” to disclose relevant conflicts of interests to the University. Where a conflict of interest has been found to exist, a copy of the “Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Form – Contractors” shall be provided to Legal and Integrity at integrity@ecu.edu.au.
The Manager, Legal and Integrity will maintain details of all disclosed Personal Interests and identified Conflicts of Interests within a register which will be referred to as the Conflicts of Interest Register. Relevant Individuals may request details of the Personal Interests they have disclosed to the University from the Manager, Legal and Integrity.