UON’s updated Travel Policy

Background

UON’s Travel Policy had not been updated since 2006 and as a result it needed a wholesale refresh. The new improvements have been gathered from UON’s internal audit recommendations, EY travel expense management review findings, peers’ best practice, insurance requirements, Australian Tax Office’s requirements, travel agencies’ best practice and administrative streamlining needs.

Travel Policy Framework

UON’s Travel Policy is anchored on the memorable “SEE” acronym, which prescribes the 3 principles that all UON travel must be:

1. Safe
2. Essential and
3. Economical

And it can be remembered using the Travel Policy’s tag line: “When you travel, you must SEE”.

Purpose of “SEE”

The Travel Policy seeks to:

1. effectively fulfil UON’s responsibility for travellers’ safety – through the “Safe” principle;
2. add a layer of prudential discipline and reputational insurance by emphasising UON’s deliberate intention that no University funding will be expended on non-essential, ancillary travel. The “Essential” principle aligns with the Australian Tax Office’s requirement for travel expenditure to have the “essential character of an income-producing expense”. This principle also aligns with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s advice against non-essential travel to high risk countries. The “Essential” principle is role dependent and is expected to vary from person to person.
3. protect the University’s financial sustainability, while aligning to the NeW Futures Strategy, through the “Economical” principle. This principle protects the University’s economic landscape and informs, monitors and prioritises the decision making process relating to travel selections by committing to economical choices, as guided by the Travel Policy and Procedures.