The HBG Speak Up Platform is an independent and externally managed platform for you to speak up and report any actual or suspected issue, wrongdoing or illegal activity that may be occurring that has the potential to impact you, your colleagues, our customers or the organisation as a whole. 

The HBG Speak Up Platform is for all employees, contractors, suppliers, and patrons to use to speak up and report any actual or suspected issue. It complements existing internal reporting channels and provides you with a safe, simple and secure way to speak up.

We believe that all of our employees play an important role in upholding our values. Central to that is empowering our people to speak up when they see or suspect something that isn’t quite right and that has the potential to impact them, one of their colleagues, our customers or the organisation as a whole. We are committed to fostering a safe speak up culture and supporting our people when they speak up. The HBG Speak Up Platform is a testament to that commitment and provides all of our people with another tool to use should they wish to raise a concern. This program is designed to complement, and not replace, our existing internal channels for speaking up that include speaking to your Manager, one of the executive team or the People and Culture team.

No. The HBG Speak Up Platform is an addition to the existing channels at Holman Barnes Group for people to speak up. It does not replace our existing internal reporting mechanisms but it provides another option so that people can choose the best method to report concerns.

The HBG Speak Up Platform is independently managed by a specialist service provider, Core Integrity and provides another way for people to speak up confidentially and anonymously.

The HBG Speak Up Platform enables you to speak up and report a wide range of concerns or issues. Common issues include fraud, theft, bribery and corruption, breaches of policy, conflicts of interest, bullying and harassment – to name a few. You should refer to HBG’s policies that discuss conduct issues.

The HBG Speak Up Platform is independently managed by a specialist service provider, Core Integrity. The team from Core Integrity is trained in dealing with complex and sensitive disclosure issues. We recognise that, at times, people may not feel comfortable raising an issue in person or with those who they work with. The HBG Speak Up Platform provides you with a number of secure reporting channels and enables you to speak to a trained expert to raise an issue or concern early whilst having your confidentiality or identity (should you choose) protected.

Our HBG Speak Up Platform provides you with a number of channels to make a report such as secure online reporting form accessible via QR code and weblink, phone, email and traditional mail. You can choose the reporting channel that suits you best, based on the issue you wish to report. Regardless of what channel you use to make your report, all reports are treated in the strictest of confidence and are entered into our secure online reporting platform to provide. Our secure reporting platform provides you with the ability to engage in secure, two-way communications with those who are reviewing your report and provides so you can receive status updates and provide more information if required.

Depending on the information provided and the nature of the report,
Holman Barnes Group will then consider the most appropriate course of action. Every report is different, and not all reports require an investigation. Holman Barnes Group will review the report in detail, consider the information and any other information that may be available in determining the most appropriate course of action. Holman Barnes Group will follow any existing internal policies and procedures that exist in formulating their response to appropriately deal with, and resolve the matter.

Some times it may be deemed appropriate to commence an investigation. An investigation may be undertaken internally or may be outsourced to a suitably qualified and experienced investigator.

We may also use the information from reports to understand what are common themes, trends and issues occurring across the organisation and may use this information to support ongoing education and welfare initiatives for the benefit of our people.

All reports received by the HBG Speak Up Platform are treated in the strictest of confidence. Your identity, and the information you provide, will be treated in confidence and only shared with select people internally who are responsible for reviewing and receiving such matters. Importantly, your identity and the information you supply will only be shared with your consent.

If you wish to remain anonymous you may do so. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you are encouraged to make your report via the secure online platform and to monitor progress of your report.

In some circumstances either Core Integrity or
Holman Barnes Group may be required by law to share the details of your report, such as in mandatory reporting circumstances. In these circumstances you will be advised of such at the time of either making your report to Core Integrity or by a member of Holman Barnes Group who has been assigned your report for further review and action.

If you don’t feel comfortable in providing your details and information in these circumstances, you should advise the Core Integrity team.

All reports received via the HBG Speak Up Platform are recorded in our secure online platform. Regardless of which channel you use to speak up, you will be given a unique Report ID and password that enables you to directly access your report at any time. You are encouraged to retain your Report ID and password to enable you to login and check on the status and progress of your report.

Our secure online platform enables you to engage in secure, two-way communications with the Core Integrity team and those who have been assigned internally to your report. This secure two-way communication is perfect for asking questions, receiving updates and even providing more information in support of your report.

Sometimes people don’t feel comfortable speaking to their manager or to another internal department when reporting an issue or concern. The HBG Speak Up Platform provides an additional mechanism, external to the organisation, for people to speak up, to feel safe and to have their report and identity treated in confidence. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking up via your existing internal channels, then the HBG Speak Up Platform is for you. All reports are treated in the strictest confidence and can be kept anonymous if you want (see below for further detail).

Yes. The HBG Speak Up Platform allows for secure, anonymous two-way communications so you don’t have to provide your name and other details if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.