New code of conduct on the way

Federation seeks further discussions with DET about its proposed Code of Conduct. JENNIFER LEETE reports.

Members may recall that during 2001 and 2002 the Department of Education and Training (DET) engaged in consultation around a proposed new Code of Conduct to replace the one which was issued by then Director-General Ken Boston in August 1997. In 2002, in particular, Federation was involved in detailed discussions with the Department and the union sent detailed correspondence suggesting amendments to the Department's draft document. Some of these suggested amendments were accepted and some were rejected.

From about October 2002 Federation had no further contact with the DET on this issue. Informal advice to Federation was that Jan McClelland, who was acting Director-General at the time, instructed that no further work occur on the Code until detailed consultation had occurred with the principal organisations.

In July 2003 DET wrote to Federation and again provided a draft Code of Conduct which was only slightly different from the draft Federation considered in 2002.

The Code of Conduct deals with the following issues:

• general principles
• guide to ethical decision making
• conflict of interest
• relationships between staff and students
• drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• discrimination, harassment and workplace safety
• information protection and public comment
• participation in external organisations
• private and secondary employment
• use of official resources
• post separation employment

• reporting suspected wrongdoing.

Federation again made some suggestions for amendments. The union also made it clear that the Code of Conduct is a DET document, not an agreed document.

Having now seen the new child protection legislation, Federation has sought further discussions with the DET and asked that the Code of Conduct not be finalised until after the legislation is passed and further discussions concluded. The reason for this is that the child protection legislation makes reference to relevant "code of conduct or professional standards" in consideration of whether a teacher's behaviour is reportable.

Jennifer Leete is the Deputy President.

For further information

September 2003 contents