Northern Territory Conflict of Interest Policy

1. Statement

We will ensure the accountability of the St Vincent de Paul Society – Northern Territory (the Society) to those people that the Society serves and employ; its donors, funders, stakeholders, and the wider community of the Northern Territory. The Society will comply with the requirements of legislation pertaining to a Public Body or Public Officer.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to all Society Conference, Associate and Volunteer Members, Volunteers, and Staff (worker) and in regard to all business operations, functions, and activities of the Society.

3. Purpose

This policy will outline what may be defined as a conflict of interest, how the Society requires any conflicts of interests to be managed, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with this policy.

The Society is a Public Body, and its representatives are Public Officers under the law. The Society is an incorporated body that directly or indirectly receives public resources, namely Northern Territory Government Funding and Commonwealth funding.

All representatives must conduct their affairs in a manner that ensures that personal and professional interests are not in conflict, or perceived to be in conflict, with the interests and aims of the Society.

All representatives must ensure that where such a conflict does exist, they raise this with the Society and make arrangements to minimise any effects.

Similarly, all representatives must ensure that no persons related to a representative in any way, benefit from the business of the Society through any undeclared conflict of interest.

A Conflict of Interest can be

(a) An actual conflict of interest arises where there is a real material conflict between the

interests of a Worker and the performance of their duties in the best interests of the Society.

(b) A potential conflict of interest arises where an actual conflict of interest may occur sometime in the future, either based on current circumstances or a change in circumstances.

(c) A perceived conflict of interest arises where a person may reasonably form the view that a conflict of interest exists. A situation that appears to be a conflict of interest may be enough to undermine confidence, even if there is no conflict of interest, or it has been resolved already.

Conflicts of Interest cannot always be avoided. Unavoidable conflicts of interest must be identified, disclosed, and effectively managed. Effective management of conflicts of interest is predicated on the Society being able to identify specific conflicts of interest as and when they occur. The aim is to be able to minimise the occurrence of actual or perceived conflicts of interest by identifying, documenting, and managing potential conflicts.