Purpose

To guide Wheels of Wellness (WoW) in maintaining a harmonious and ethical work environment. The Code of Conduct (the code) sets out the standards of professional conduct (the rules) that the Board expects all members of the team to follow in the performance of their work. The Board has absolute discretion to amend or vary the code at any time.

In conjunction with the code, the Board expects those employed or engaged by WoW to abide by their own professions Code of Conduct.

Scope

The code applies to all members of the WoW team comprising of directors, employees, sub-contractors, volunteers, and student placements.

Policy

The code sets out the standards of professional conduct (the rules) and behaviour of the team towards individuals with whom you work, clients you care for or others who you interact with while representing WoW. 

This required standard of conduct and behaviour supports WoW’s ability to maintain the trust and confidence of our clients, stakeholders, community, and funders in the services we provide.

The code is not intended to give a detailed or exhaustive list of what to do or not do while performing your duties or interacting with others. Instead, it represents a framework to guide conduct and behaviour in the workplace and when representing WoW.

Responsibilities

It is your responsibility to:

• • Be aware of and comply with the code.
  • Report behaviour that may be contrary to the code and required standards of behaviour.
  • Comply with mandatory reporting requirements, including but not limited to: 
  • Mandatory reports of domestic and family violence, reportable incidents involving children and vulnerable people or other regulatory requirements. 
  • Keep all records, documents and communications accurate, truthful, and up to date.
  • Inform yourself and comply with WoW’s policies and procedures relevant to your position.

Personal & Professional Behaviour

The following list is not exhaustive, however, captures the essence of the Board’s expectations of personal and professional behaviour:

• Treat others with respect, dignity, fairness and courtesy.
• Uphold the highest standards of honesty, integrity and transparency in the conduct of your duties.

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality about dealings you have with a director, senior member of staff, client or stakeholder.

• Be friendly and collaborative and do not intentionally disrupt the workplace or present obstacles to other team members.
• Take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest (real, apparent or potential) and disclose details to the Senior Medical Officer, Chief Executive Officer or Board Chair.
• Comply with any lawful and reasonable direction given by a director, senior officer or subcontractor who has authority to give the direction.
• Comply with any other conduct requirement that is prescribed by the regulations of the relevant regulatory bodies, including your professions Code of Conduct or Ethics. Links to these codes are at Attachment A.
• Comply with all applicable Australian laws.
• Protect WoW’s legality by complying with all environmental, safety and fair dealing laws.

• The Board prohibits briberies.
• The Board discourages the acceptance of gifts from clients, their partners, stakeholders, service providers, funders and philanthropists. 
  • If a gift is accepted, it must be reported to the Practice Manager who will record the item on the Gift Declaration Register.
• While on duty and away from the WoW premises, always behave in a way that upholds the Code’s principles.
• Individuals should dress appropriately for the role they hold within WoW.

Board & Executive/Senior Officers

As well as the conduct listed in Personal & Professional Behaviour, senior officers of the team must:

• Maintain an open-door policy that reflects the Board’s commitment to transparent and flexible communication between senior officers and team members so the culture of trust is maintained.
• Delegate duties to team members considering their competences and workload.
• Not abuse their authority.

Use of Information

Confidential information is information obtained or developed during the conduct of WoW’s business and if disclosed will or could lead to risk, damage or injury to our organisation, member(s) of the team, clients or third parties. You must:

• Collect, use, and disclose confidential information only in accordance with WoW’s policy and applicable privacy laws.
   
• Protect confidential information.
• Only access confidential information when it is required for work purposes.
• Not use confidential information for any unofficial or non-work purposes.
• Only release confidential information if authorised to do so by the Senior Medical Officer or Chief Executive Officer or director.
• Not provide false or misleading information in response to a request for information that is made for official purposes in connection with your employment or engagement with WoW.
• Not improperly use inside information or your duties, status, power or authority:
  • to gain, or seek to gain, a benefit or an advantage for yourself or any other person,
  • to cause, or seek to cause, detriment to WoW, our funders, other organisations we work with or any other person. 

Public Comment

Only the Chair or Chief Executive Officer of WoW who have authority to speak with the media about any aspect of our work or service. Any such requests are to be passed onto the Chief Executive Officer (or delegate) immediately. 

The code requires you to:

• Ensure that public comments (either verbal or written) made in a private capacity are not attributed as official comments of WoW.
• Not use official stationery, email addresses, text messages or any other electronic identifiers for private correspondence or for purposes not related to official WoW duties.

Resources

WoW resources must be used in a proper manner and for a proper purpose, with due consideration to both environmental and financial burden. You must:

• Treat WoW’s property, whether material or intangible, with respect and care and agree to:
  • Not misusing company equipment or use it frivolously.
  • Respect all kinds of incorporeal property (ownership of a property that cannot be touched or felt such as trademarks, copyright and Intellectual Property).
  • Only use to complete the role at hand.
• Protect WoW’s facilities and other material property (e.g. vehicles) from damage and vandalism, whenever possible.
• Be ethical and responsible when dealing with WoW’s finances.

Code of Conduct – Professions

The links to the professional Codes of Conduct have been taken from the AHPRA and National Boards website. The Code of Ethics is from the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Medical
Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia

Nursing
Code of Conduct for nurses

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice
Code of Conduct

Podiatry
Code of Conduct

Social Work

Code of Ethics

Disciplinary actions

WoW will take disciplinary action against employees who repeatedly or intentionally fail to follow our code. 

Disciplinary actions will vary depending on the violation. Possible consequences include:

• • A warning.
  • Suspension or termination for more serious offenses.

WoW may take legal action in cases of corruption, theft, embezzlement, or other unlawful behaviour.

Any person or organisation can raise a concern about a representative of WoW by contacting the Chief Executive Officer or the Chair of the Board.