DASSRS

Whistle-blowing

Purpose

This Whistle-blowing Policy aims to provide a safe, transparent, and confidential framework for individuals to report concerns about suspected misconduct, unethical behaviour, or violations of policies and standards within the operations of DASSRS, including its journals, editorial teams, and affiliated entities.

DASSRS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, academic honesty, and professional conduct.

Scope

This policy applies to:

  • Employees and officers of DASSRS
  • Editorial board members and peer reviewers
  • Authors and contributors
  • Conference participants
  • External stakeholders and partners

Concerns may include, but are not limited to:

  • Academic fraud, plagiarism, or data manipulation
  • Misconduct in peer review or editorial bias
  • Financial impropriety or mismanagement
  • Breach of confidentiality or data privacy
  • Abuse of authority or discrimination
  • Violation of research ethics and publishing standards

 

Reporting Mechanism

Any individual may report concerns through the following confidential channels:

Anonymous reports are accepted, but they must include sufficient detail to facilitate a proper investigation.

Confidentiality and Protection

  • All whistle-blowing reports will be handled confidentially, by applicable laws and ethical guidelines.
  • No retaliation will be tolerated against individuals who report concerns in good faith.
  • DASSRS will take disciplinary action against any person who retaliates against or harasses whistleblowers.

 

Investigation Procedure

  • Acknowledgement: Receipt of the complaint will be acknowledged within five working days.
  • Preliminary Review: An internal committee will review the information to determine the merit of the claim.
  • Formal Investigation: If warranted, a thorough, impartial investigation will be conducted.
  • Resolution: Findings will be reviewed by senior leadership or an independent ethics panel, and appropriate corrective actions will be taken.
  • Feedback: The whistle-blower may be notified of the general outcome, subject to confidentiality rules.

Malicious Allegations

DASSRS considers malicious or knowingly false accusations to be a serious offence. Individuals found to have made such allegations will be subject to disciplinary measures, which may include revocation of editorial or publication privileges.

Policy Review and Oversight

This policy is reviewed every two years or as necessary by the DASSRS Ethics and Compliance Committee to ensure continued effectiveness, fairness, and alignment with global best practices.