Public Statement

Evaluation of Professional Development funds

24 November 2025

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Statement by Commissioner Emma Townsend, Commissioner Against Corruption

The Commissioner has decided to conduct an evaluation of the practices, policies and procedures of the Department for Health and Wellbeing, the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) in relation to the management of professional development funds.

Medical officers (a term to describe a broad range of doctors) in South Australia’s public health system are eligible to be reimbursed for their professional development expenses, up to a cap as determined by the relevant Enterprise Agreement.

ICAC’s objective is to inspect the guardrails currently in place to minimise the risk of this funding being misused or vulnerable to corrupt conduct.

Terms of reference

The evaluation’s terms of reference are to review and report on:

1. the Department for Health and Wellbeing’s policies and procedures in respect of the management of professional development funds for medical officers
2. the practices of SALHN and WCHN in respect to administering professional development funds
3. the extent to which these practices, policies and procedures effectively manage the risks of corruption.

If you would like to share information relevant to the scope of this evaluation, please contact evaluation@icac.sa.gov.au.

ICAC will submit a final evaluation report to SA Parliament next year. This report will also be made available on the Commission’s website.

For media enquiries, contact media@icac.sa.gov.au or 0428 389 493.