Fraud and Corruption Training gets a fun makeover

As the Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework came into effect on 1 July 2024, many entities also updated their fraud and corruption awareness training and took the chance to rethink how they delivered training. The goal? Making sure that staff are engaged while understanding their obligations in managing fraud and corruption risks.

We’ve talked before about how gamification can make mandatory training less of a tick-box exercise and improve compliance. A great example of this is the Australian Taxation Office’s Villain Academy. This self-directed training challenges participants to spot the signs of grooming in a video game-like setting, offering a more interactive, hands-on approach to learning.

We have also brought some fun into the mix in our Counter Fraud Practitioner Training Program. On Day 5 of the program, participants engage in an epic red-team, blue-team battle. One team applies its knowledge of fraud typologies to try to defraud a fictional government program, while the other team uses its knowledge of fraud controls to safeguard the program. The scenario is designed so that teams must deal with constraints and changing circumstances to simulate real-world experiences. 

Recently, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) developed a new online fraud and corruption awareness module. By incorporating interactive elements such as scenarios, quizzes and interactive storytelling, DEWR has created a training experience that’s both informative and engaging. They also made clever use of our key resources like the Fraudster Personas, bringing the learning to life.

DEWR created the training by integrating content from the APS Academy’s APS Foundations: Fraud and Corruption course with material tailored to DEWR’s context, risks and processes. Early feedback from staff has been very positive, especially about the use of interactive case studies to support learning. These images show DEWR’s use of the Fraudster Personas, and the start of a fraud scenario tailored to DEWR’s context. 

To learn more about DEWR’s training, reach out to the DEWR team at integrity@dewr.gov.au. 

Are you updating or developing new internal training materials? We’d love to hear from you! 

We’re happy to lend a hand, whether it’s providing digitised versions of specific training or activities materials or simply reviewing your content. Drop us a line at info@counterfraud.gov.au.

It’s impressive to see so many entities tailoring their education to better equip staff in the fight against fraud.

Author: Adriana Wlodarczyk