Early Childhood Intervention Australia Code of Ethics

I. IN RELATION TO CHILDREN, I WILL:

View each child firstly as a child (irrespective of abilities or disabilities).
Value the unique abilities of each child and maintain an openness to each child's ability to achieve.
Acknowledge each child's needs as a human being and the needs that result from their particular developmental challenges.
Acknowledge the major role of play in development and be sensitive to children's right to play, their need for stimulation, enjoyment, choice and preferences.
Interact with children in ways that enhance their development and competencies and value their achievements.
Identify, value and build upon each child's competencies.
Advocate on behalf of children.
Advocate for the abilities and strengths of each child irrespective of diagnosis and/or prognosis.
Create and maintain safe, healthy and stimulating environments that optimise children's well-being and development.
Assist children to learn to interact and communicate effectively.
Base my work with children on sound theoretical and practical knowledge as well as on individual knowledge of each child's development and additional needs.
Respect the special relationship between children and their families and incorporate this understanding in all my interactions with children.
Work to ensure that young children are not discriminated against on the basis of ability, diagnosis, label, gender, age, race, religion, language, culture, or national origin.
Acknowledge the worth of the cultural and linguistic diversity that children and families possess and adapt practices accordingly.
Engage only in practices that are respectful of and provide security for children and in no way degrade, endanger, exploit, intimidate or harm them.
Ensure that my practices reflect consideration of the child's perspective.
Act on behalf of children to protect their physical and emotional wellbeing in including making protective notifications when necessary.

II. IN RELATION TO FAMILIES, I WILL:

Develop collaborative partnerships with families respecting carer and family expertise about the children and share my professional knowledge and understanding sensitively.
Work to develop positive relationships with families that are based on mutual trust and open communication.
Seek to engage in shared decision making with families.
Work to support and complement the family in its child rearing.
Acknowledge and respect families' existing strengths and competencies.
Acknowledge and respect the uniqueness of each family, and the significance of its culture, customs, language, beliefs, and the community context in which it operates.
Acknowledge and respect different family compositions.
Consider each family's perspective, especially when their views differ from mine.
Assist each family to develop a sense of trust and connection to the services in which their children participate.
Respect each family's right to be involved in the services available at the level they choose.
Maintain confidentiality, and respect each family's right to privacy.
Provide families with full and unbiased information to enable them to make informed decisions.
Convey information to caregivers in a direct, transparent and sensitive manner.
Value and encourage mutual support between caregivers, families and the community.

III. IN RELATION TO COLLEAGUES AND STAFF TEAMS, I WILL:

Make every effort to communicate effectively.
Work to build an atmosphere of professional trust, respect and candour.
Acknowledge and support the use of the personal and professional strengths that my colleagues bring to the work place.
Support and assist colleagues in their professional development.
Acknowledge the worth of the cultural and linguistic diversity that my colleagues bring to the work place.
Respect the perspectives that different disciplines bring to the understanding of the needs of each child, family, service and community.
Create a climate of effective teamwork and consultation.
Work to maintain and improve the standard of service provided in my work place.
Promote policies and working conditions that are non-discriminatory and that foster competence, well-being and positive self-esteem.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality.
Encourage my colleagues to accept and adhere to this Code.

IV. IN RELATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY, I WILL:

Ensure services are responsive to community needs.
Support the development and implementation of laws and policies that promote the wellbeing of children and families and that are responsive to community needs.
Be familiar with and abide by laws and policies that relate to my work.
Work to promote laws and policies that enhance the wellbeing of children.
Promote cooperation among all agencies and professions working in the best interests of children and families.
Promote children's best interest through community education and advocacy.
Support continuous service evaluation and accountability to clients and the community.

V. IN RELATION TO MYSELF AS A PROFESSIONAL, I WILL:

Update, and continue to improve my expertise and practice in the early childhood intervention field through formal and informal professional development.
Engage in critical self-reflection and seek input from colleagues and others.
Communicate with and consider the views of all my colleagues.
Initiate and support research to strengthen and expand the knowledge base of early childhood intervention.
Work within the limits of my professional role and avoid misrepresentation of my professional competence and qualifications.
Be an advocate for young children, services, education and therapies, and early childhood intervention.
Recognise the particular importance of formal qualifications in early childhood intervention studies together with personal characteristics such as openness to new ideas and to continued growth and development.
Act in the community in ways that enhance the standing of my profession.
Maintain the standards of my profession.