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Gifts Benefits and Hospitality Policy

Applicable to: This Policy is applicable to all WA health system entities, as defined in this Policy.

Description: To ensure a consistent approach to the integrity governance and risks associated with gifts, benefits and hospitality offered to Department of Health employees and Health Service Provider staff members, and to ensure the effective governance of offered gifts, benefits and hospitality. The Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy specifies the principles and minimum requirements with which WA health system entities must comply and includes the monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements.

In line with the Public Sector Commission Code of Ethics and MP 0124/19 Code of Conduct Policy, Department of Health employees and Health Service Provider staff members are required to act with honesty and integrity and must not accept:

  • inducements or incentives that are intended to influence their decisions or actions; and
  • gifts, benefits and hospitality which are, or could reasonably be interpreted to be, designed to secure influence or preferential treatment in favour of the giver including gifting between Department of Health employees and Health Service Provider staff members.

Accepting gifts, benefits or hospitality creates a risk that may undermine the public’s trust and confidence in the WA health system and may:

  • create a potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest;
  • influence staff members to act in their own personal interest rather than in the public interest, or to unfairly favour or disadvantage an organisation or individual;
  • create a culture of entitlement; and
  • present opportunities with the potential to escalate into bribery, misconduct or corruption.

Department of Health employees and Health Service Provider staff members must not receive, nor expect to receive, additional compensation of any kind in addition to their usual remuneration for performing their duties.

The following are not considered a ‘gift’ for the purpose of this Policy:

  • A token gift to a ward/unit or team of a nominal value up to $50 including but not limited to gifts of appreciation such as, chocolates or flowers from a grateful patient, family or member of the public
  • Any externally funded staff travel. Refer to the MP0017/16 WA Health Staff Air Travel Policy 
  • Expenditure on official hospitality and the offer of gifts by Department of Health employees and Health Service Provider staff members to non- staff members such as guests or visitors. This should be dealt with in accordance with Section 602 of the WA Health Financial Management Manual.
  • Donations of money, equipment or other items to WA health system entities. This should be dealt with in accordance with Section 530 Donations and Gifts of the WA Health Financial Management Manual Index
  • Offers and acceptance of hospitality by Department of Health employees and Health Service Provider staff members, authorised in accordance with MP0047/17 Sponsorship Policy. 

This Policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Integrity Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(l) and section 19(1A) of the Health Services Act 2016.

This Policy is a mandatory requirement for the Department of Health pursuant to section 29 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

This Policy supersedes MP 0112/19 Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy and Department of Health Acceptance of Gifts Policy. 

Date of effect: 27 May 2020

Policy Framework

Supporting information

wa.gov.au