A former Education Department official has told of being bullied and her career sidelined after she objected to public funds being spent on luxurious retreats where alcohol flowed freely.
Former finance manager Eleanor Griffiths has told an inquiry into the misuse of Victorian school funds that her concerns about departmental spending on retreats were ignored.
"I was concerned by the amount of alcohol being consumed, the lavishness of the accommodation," she told an Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry on Tuesday.
"I got a bit of a reputation, I suppose, for being a bit of a spoilsport."
IBAC is examining claims Education Department officials linked to former finance officer Nino Napoli diverted money intended for schools into a secret slush fund.
Ms Griffiths says between 2004 and 2005, she questioned why the department was paying for alcohol at the professional retreats, which were in extravagant resorts outside of Melbourne.
She says Mr Napoli had approved the inclusion of alcohol at a retreat in Lorne, which was attended by the department's then deputy secretary, Jeff Rosewarne.
"There was lots of alcohol provided. It was freely available throughout the night," she said.
"There were a number of jokes being made about Nino and Jeff partying until about 4am in the morning and visiting people's rooms."
Ms Griffiths says it was department policy not to provide alcohol at professional development retreats.
However, she felt bullied when she questioned the spending or highlighted discrepancies.
"I was told I was not a team player ... that if I wasn't part of the solution, I was part of the problem."
She says the department did not have a culture where someone could raise concerns and have them taken seriously.
"You would be sidelined," Ms Griffiths said.
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