Child Protection Code of Conduct

All DTP Personnel are required to abide by this Code of Conduct in respect of their involvement with children through their participation in or provision of DTP programs. DTP expects that all DTP Personnel will sign an acknowledgement that they have read, understand and agree to be bound by the Policy and this Code of Conduct.

DTP Personnel must, at all times:

• Be familiar with and comply with the DTP Child Protection Policy and this Code of Conduct.
• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a child–safe environment within DTP and at DTP programs, courses, events or activities.
• Treat children with respect and value their ideas and opinions, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
• Respect each child’s cultural differences, consistent with respecting the universal values of human rights and dignity.
• Act as positive role models in their conduct with children and remain professional in their actions towards children.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and only engage in ‘behaviours to encourage’, as set out in Annexure 3 to the Child Protection Policy.
• Whenever possible, ensure that another adult is present when working in the proximity of children.
• Comply with all relevant Australian Commonwealth and State legislation and local legislation regarding the protection of children, including in relation to child labour.
• Immediately disclose all charges, convictions and other outcomes of an offence that relates to child exploitation and abuse, including in overseas jurisdictions and those under traditional law, which occurred before or occurs during their association with DTP.
• Comply with the requirements of DTP’s Child Protection Policy and wider legislative requirements for the immediate reporting of concerns or allegations of abuse, exploitation or risks of harm to children and/or non–compliance with the Policy or this Code.
• Comply with all screening requirements for working with children (legislative and as set out in the Policy), including disclosing any previous charges, convictions or other outcomes of offences relating to children, to the Executive Director, Child Protection Officer and/or any senior DTP Personnel responsible for recruitment.
• Consult with the Executive Director, Child Protection Officer and any appropriate external professionals or State bodies, in respect of protecting children from and minimising, risks of harm.
• Cooperate fully with all external and internal investigations or inquiries into allegations of child abuse or risks of harm to children.

DTP Personnel must not:

• Do anything to contravene the Policy or Code of Conduct.
• Engage in any activity with a child that is likely to cause them physical, emotional or psychological harm.
• Shame humiliate, oppress, belittle or degrade any child, or unlawfully discriminate against any child.
• Use inappropriate language or engage in any of the ‘behaviours to avoid’ set out in Annexure 3 to the Policy, including language or behaviours that are harassing, abusive in any way, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate.
• Invite unaccompanied children to their home, or to engage in activities or events unrelated to DTP.
• Develop relationships with children that are or could be deemed to be inappropriate, exploitative or abusive.
• Engage in any sexual act with a child including paying for a sexual act or service.
• Use technology or social media inappropriately with children, to harass or exploit children, or to access exploitative material in relation to children.
• Use physical punishments with children.
• Hire children for domestic or other labour that is inappropriate for their age or stage of development, or that interferes with their education and/or recreational activities, or otherwise places them at risk of significant injury.

Annex

Acknowledgment of Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct