An extraordinary six months has passed since we published IBAC Insights in March. While IBAC's role in exposing corruption often reveals a dark side of our public sector, I am encouraged and heartened by the hard work of Victoria's public sector. It is particularly evident now, when the public sector faces extraordinary demands, that the vast majority of employees are motivated by a desire to serve the community to the best of their ability. I witness this focus every day from employees at IBAC, and this focus is a strong and integral characteristic of Victoria's hard working public sector.

By IBAC Executive Director Prevention & Communication Christine Howlett

Preventing corruption and misconduct is core to IBAC's work. The scale and diversity of the public sector coupled with finite resources requires us to target activities to issues and sectors where risks and vulnerabilities are greatest. Find out more about how IBAC is reviewing our prevention strategy to ensure we achieve long-term and sustainable impact.

By IBAC Deputy Commissioner David Wolf

Seventy six out of Victoria's 79 councils head to general elections this month. While council elections rarely get the same media attention as state or federal elections, they are equally important. The 600 plus newly elected councillors will set the direction and make decisions affecting their constituencies for the next four years. How they get elected matters.

By IBAC CEO Marlo Baragwanath

The current COVID-19 pandemic, following so closely after the disastrous bushfires last summer, is having an unprecedented impact as our public sector works to meet community expectations and demands for vital public services. IBAC has developed a range of resources to help the public sector safeguard integrity during times of crisis.

IBAC has developed a suite of resources to support public sector agencies' awareness and understanding of changes relating to the Public Interest Disclosures Act. Short animated videos, posters, digital banners and social media ads will help agencies raise awareness of these important protections for people who report corruption or misconduct.

How can public sector agencies maintain good governance and accountability while needing to respond quickly and under pressure during times of crisis or emergency? Victoria's integrity agencies came together in mid-September to discuss this question and more in a webinar hosted by IBAC and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria).

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised interest in IBAC's independent oversight of Victoria Police. Read about some of the work Deputy Commissioner Katie Miller has been involved with to communicate Victorians' rights and the obligations of Victoria Police when they interact with community members, along with IBAC's role handling complaints about police misconduct.

IBAC investigations are an important mechanism for exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct. This is a summary of IBAC announcements from July to October 2020 regarding our operations.

IBAC Deputy Commissioner Katie Miller joined a panel discussion in August about how Associate Professor Leanne Weber's research on policing and belonging can be translated into practical measures for inclusive forms of policing.

IBAC staff continue to work remotely due to COVID-19. During this time we are still taking complaints as we continue our work to prevent and expose public sector corruption and police misconduct. Upcoming public hearings and webinars will be listed on our website.