17 JunDoes your service have an up-to-date Code of Conduct policy?
Establishing a Code of Conduct in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services isn’t just a formality, it’s a commitment to ethical behaviour and safety. These codes set the tone for interactions among staff, with children, families and the broader community. The Education and Care National Law (Section 167) states that providers, nominated supervisors, teachers, educators and all staff must take reasonable precautions to safeguard children from harm and hazards.
The National Quality Standard underscores respectful, ethical behaviour as a foundation for professional practice (4.2 and 4.2.2), where employers bear the responsibility to cultivate a discrimination-free, safe work environment.
Child Safe Standards mandate that Codes of Conduct outline expected behaviour and guide staff and volunteers, where breaches needing to be reported and addressed promptly. These codes should align with the service’s beliefs, values, and ethical principles, drawing insights from established codes like the Victorian Teaching Profession and Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics.
Ultimately, it’s the approved provider’s duty to ensure everyone associated with the service, including staff, contractors, volunteers, families, and children, adhere to the Code of Conduct. This extends to all interactions within the service, with families, and the broader community.
Does your service have an up-to-date Code of Conduct policy?
Our PolicyWorks Catalogue provides easy-to-use templates to assist ECEC services to contextualise and update policies to meet legislative, regulatory and funding requirements.
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