Fraud prevention strategies are considered the first line of defence within Australian government departments. Things like theft of assets, misappropriation of funds, unlawful release of information, siphoning of money, collusion with service providers for kickbacks, falsified documentation, and other fraudulent acts occur every year. An effective fraud prevention strategy requires promotion of an ethical culture, strong awareness and vigilance among key staff, and a competent and comprehensive internal control framework.

Fraud detection and prevention is not the sole responsibility of investigators and prosecutors, but depends on a range of government officials and policy makers and the people who support them. For this reason, it is vital that all practitioners tasked with the responsibility of countering fraud have the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to exercise their duties.