Fraud Policy

 Purpose:
This Fraud Policy outlines the principles and procedures that He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre follows to prevent, detect, and respond to fraudulent activities within our organisation.

Scope:
This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, contractors, and stakeholders associated with He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre.

Definitions:
Fraud: Any deliberate act or omission carried out with the intent to deceive, manipulate, or gain an unfair or unlawful advantage.

Stakeholders: 
Refers to all individuals and entities, including staff, parents/guardians, students, contractors, and any others who interact with He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre.

Preventative Measures:
All employees and stakeholders must adhere to the highest ethical standards that are outlined in their job descriptions and individual employment contracts. 

Segregation of Duties: 
Responsibilities involving financial transactions are segregated with a two-to-sign authorisation to prevent a single individual from having control over all aspects of a transaction.

Reporting Suspicious Activity: All employees and stakeholders are encouraged to promptly report any suspicious or fraudulent activities to the centre manager or the management committee of He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre.

Detection
Internal Audits:
Regular internal audits of financial transactions and records will be conducted to identify irregularities.
The administrator and centre manager look over transaction weekly and report monthly to the management committee. 
The Management Committee have access to Xero records to review as required.
A full financial audit is carried out annually

Response
Investigation: 
Upon receiving a report of suspected fraud, He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre will conduct a thorough and impartial investigation. This may involve external agencies if necessary.
Disciplinary Action: Individuals found guilty of fraudulent activities will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination of employment or legal action.
Legal Action: He Waka Eke No Early Learning Centre reserves the right to pursue legal action against individuals or entities involved in fraudulent activities.
Reporting to Authorities: Fraudulent activities involving public funds will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Communication
Communication with Stakeholders: He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre will communicate its commitment to preventing and addressing fraud to all stakeholders through regular updates and notices.

Review and Revision
This Fraud Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. Any necessary revisions will be made to address emerging threats or changing   

Conclusion
He Waka Eke Noa Early Learning Centre is committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity and ethical conduct. We will take all necessary steps to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud to protect the interests of our center and its stakeholders.

Date:	October 2024
	
Review Date:	October 2025
	
Consultation
Undertaken:	Management Committee/whanau/staff