Helen Bentham

Member’s name: Helen Bentham
Date of Hearing: 25 September 2023
Division: New South Wales
Tribunal: Disciplinary Tribunal

On 25 September 2023 the Disciplinary Tribunal found Ms Helen Bentham breached Article 36(a) of CPA Australia’s 11 May 2022 Constitution by having “participated in or been involved with an Adverse Event” as defined in Article 76(c) of the Constitution:

• that Ms Bentham, on and from 15 February 2023, breached By-Law 4.2 which provides ‘Each Member undertaking Continuing Professional Development must: (a) maintain a record of the precise nature of their Continuing Professional Development, including date, time expended, and topics covered; (b) retain such record for at least 12 months after the end of the relevant triennium; and (c) produce such record to an officer of CPA Australia for inspection upon request.’
• that Ms Bentham breached By-Law 5.2(a)(ii) and/or 5.2(b)(ii) of the 8 December 2022 By-Laws, by failing to ‘provide a satisfactory explanation with respect to the matters referred to in the Complaint’ to CPA Australia.

Ms Helen Bentham did not attend the Disciplinary Tribunal Hearing and a denial of the Complaints was entered on her behalf.

Penalty and Costs:

The Disciplinary Tribunal found the Complaints sustained and imposed the following penalties:

Complaint 1:

• Forfeiture of Membership, not eligible for readmission for a period of five years.

A condition of readmission to membership is that Ms Bentham must provide evidence she has undertaken a minimum of 40 hours of CPD activities in the year immediately preceding the date of her application for readmission.

Complaint 2:

• a severe reprimand.
• a Fine of AU$2,000.

The Member was ordered to pay a contribution to CPA Australia’s costs of AU$3,004.75.