Code of Conduct

Definition: The Access Arts Inc Code of Conduct encapsulates the professional ethics and behaviours expected of Management Committee, Staff, Volunteers and Student Placements. The signing of the Code is a prerequisite of employment and/or election to the Management Committee.

Purpose: The purpose of signing the Code is for all Staff (including Volunteers and Student Placements) and Management Committee Members to confirm their acceptance of the responsibilities and requirements the position entails.

I accept and agree to adhere to the following Statement of Values and Code of Conduct.

Name:…………….   Position:………..

Statement of Values

Access Arts Inc. Mission Statement

To deliver a range of Professional Arts and Cultural services in partnership with Queensland communities, with an emphasis on those communities, groups and individuals who experience disability and disadvantage.

The information below comes from the Access Arts constitution and clarifies the principles and objectives of the organisation.

5. Principles

6. Objects

1. The objects of the association are:
   • to provide an opportunity for persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage to have access to and to participate in the creative arts;
   • to provide a structured program of services to achieve object (a) and to integrate the program with other community services;
   • to tailor the services to meet the individual goals and needs of persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage;
   • to achieve positive outcomes for persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage including increased independence, employment opportunities and integration into the community;
   • to foster the innate creativity that the association believes all people possess – through arts activities and events which will fully involve the disabled community and integrate where possible with the existing community arts activities;
   • to research the existing facilities and venues where activities are presently conducted and other areas of concern to persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage regarding participation in the arts;
   • to identify where accessibility to the arts could be improved for persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage in the Queensland community;
   • to contribute to ensuring that the conditions of the everyday life of persons with a disability and persons with a disadvantage are the same as, or similar to, norms and patterns which are valued in the general community.

7. User Rights

1. The users of the association’s services have the right to:
   • become a member;
   • personal assessment and programming;
   • choice concerning their involvement in the association’s programs;
   • access to age appropriate programs;
   • cultural appropriateness of programs;
   • input into program design;
   • responsiveness and sensitivity in terms of service delivery and program design;
   • opportunities for integration into the arts in the broader community;
   • opportunities for ongoing skills development in the arts;
   • special provision to support people with particular needs;
   • access to and participation in the arts;
   • access to the best possible resources that the association can provide;
   • access to information in their own files;
   • confidentiality of information held by the association;
   • advocacy and support within the organisation;
   • support to integrate into arts activities in the community;
   • expect that a positive image of persons with a disability be generated by the association in all its dealings;
   • air grievances about any aspect of the organisation through the management committee;
   • a mutually appointed adjudicator is to be appointed if the grievances cannot be resolved within the organisation;
   • have support provided to be involved with education and training workshops involving advocacy, decision making, participation in committees and responsibility of representation.

Governance

The organisation has an active governing body that is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organisation and oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the organisation.

The governing body (Management Committee):

• Ensures that its Management Committee members or trustees have the requisite skills and experience to carry out their duties and that all members understand and fulfill their governance duties acting for the benefit of the organisation and its public purpose;
• Has a conflict of interest policy that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the perception thereof are avoided or appropriately managed through disclosure, recusal or other means; and
• Is responsible for the hiring, firing, and regular review of the performance of the Executive Director , and ensures that the compensation of the Executive Director is reasonable and appropriate;
• Ensures that the Executive Director and appropriate staff provide the governing body with timely and comprehensive information so that the governing body can effectively carry out its duties;
• Ensures that the organisation conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;
• Ensures that the organisation promotes working relationships with management committee members, staff, volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on mutual respect, fairness and openness;
• Ensures that the organisation is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices for all management committee, staff and volunteer positions;
• Ensures that policies of the organisation are in writing, clearly articulated and officially adopted, and are easily accessible;
• Ensures that the resources of the organisation are responsibly and prudently managed; and,
• Ensures that the organisation has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.

Legal Compliance

The organisation is knowledgeable of and complies with all laws, regulations and applicable international conventions.

Responsible Stewardship

The organisation and its subsidiaries manage their funds responsibly and prudently. This should include the following considerations:

1. It spends a reasonable percentage of its annual budget on programs in pursuance of its mission;
2. It spends an adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent staff, and other expenditures critical to professional management;
3. The organisation compensates staff, and any others who may receive compensation, reasonably and appropriately;
4. The organisation does not accumulate operating funds excessively;
5. Organisations with endowments (both foundations and public charities) prudently draw from endowment funds consistent with donor intent and to support the public purpose of the organisation;
6. Organisations ensure that all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable and appropriate to fulfil the mission of the organisation; and,
7. All financial reports are factually accurate and complete in all material respects.

Openness and Disclosure

The organisation provides comprehensive and timely information to the public, the media, and all stakeholders and is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All information about the organisation will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the organisation. Basic informational data about the organisation, reviews and compilations, and audited financial statements will be posted on the organisation’s website or otherwise available to the public. All solicitation materials accurately represent the organisation’s policies and practices and will reflect the dignity of program beneficiaries. All financial, organisational, and program reports will be complete and accurate in all material respects.

Program Evaluation

The organisation regularly reviews program effectiveness and has mechanisms to incorporate member and staff feedback and evaluation into future programs. The organisation is committed to improving program and organisational effectiveness and develops mechanisms to promote learning from its activities and the field. The organisation is responsive to changes in its field of activity and is responsive to the needs of its constituencies.

Inclusiveness and Diversity

The organisation has a policy of promoting inclusiveness and its staff, management committee and volunteers reflect diversity in order to enrich its programmatic effectiveness. The organisation takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness in its hiring, retention, promotion, management committee recruitment and constituencies served.

I will:

• ensure that all sensitive and *confidential information relating to Access Arts and their partners remains confidential
• act with honesty, integrity and openness in all my dealings as a representative of Access Arts
• demonstrate a commitment to the principles of social justice in my work and professional relationships
• demonstrate a commitment to non-discrimination through my behaviours and actions
• encourage and support Members’ choice and decision making through the provision of information
• support Members to exercise their legal and human rights
• empower Members where necessary to use their own advocate in their choices and decision making
• agree to apply service delivery that promotes flexibility and client choice
• continually develop my skills to enhance individual and organisational performance
• contribute within my capacity to the organisation’s continuous improvement philosophy and practice
• treat all Members with dignity and respect at all times
• maintain a professional approach when working with fellow Staff Members and other organisations
• undertake my responsibilities and operate within the framework of the Association
• promote the principles of community participation and integration for people with disabilities
• promote the ability of people with a disability to fulfil valued roles in the community
• refrain from soliciting or personally accepting gifts from Members, Volunteers and Staff
• refrain from selling or trading products or services to members for financial or personal gain.
• read and agree to comply with Access Arts’ Policies and Procedures.

Name:………….

Date:………….   Signature:…………..

* “Confidential Information” means any information (other than public information that is in a form in the public domain), which is confidential to Access Arts and which includes, without limitation:

1. Any financial records of Access Arts, including profit and loss accounts and balance sheets and details of expenditure and revenue;
2. Information relating to suppliers of Access Arts, including prices, volume discounts, rebates and terms of payment;
3. Information relating to members of Access Arts, including membership lists;
4. Information relating to clients of Access Arts, including client lists;
5. Methods and processes used by Access Arts in its business; and
6. Any other information which is treated in the ordinary course of business by Access Arts as confidential information

Complies with Queensland Disability Service Standards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Update Responsibility: Emma Bennison
Date of last update: 23/06/2009

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