AYAC News

The Code of Ethics debate in Australia is not new. While many youth workers, peak bodies and academics have embraced the concept, others have not. Because Australia has not enjoyed a funded national peak body for youth affairs for over a decade, it is timely that the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) leads the debate at a federal level.

How the debate will work

AYAC is hosting the debate, right here, right now. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will find 6 documents from people across the country summarising their position on the adoption of a Code of Ethics; three people argue ‘for’ the Code and three people argue ‘against’.

Have a read of these and then jump in and add your own two cents (agree – or not – with someone else’s comment or reply to someone’s argument – you’ll need to specify their name/handle to do this). Remember, this is a unique opportunity to debate this topic on a national level, so having your say is important, whether you are a practitioner, an academic, or just someone who happens to be passionate about this issue. We also strongly suggest you look at other national Codes of Ethics, such as the Australian Psychological Society’s http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/Code_Ethics_2007.pdf and the Australian Association of Social Workers http://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/740.

Finally we would ask that you respect your colleague’s opinions and respect the House Rules of this debate.

The story so far

It is hard to untangle the pros and cons of a national Code of Ethics. Below we summarise key points taken from Bessant’s article Youth Work: The Loch Ness Monster and Professionalism.(Youth Studies Australia, vol. 23, n.4, pp26-33.). (for more information on Judith Bessant's views on a Code of Ethics please read Aristotle Meets Youth Work: A Case for Virtue Ethics, Journal of Youth Studies, Vol. 12 No 4, pp. 425- 440.)

Why we should have a Code of Ethics:

• A code of ethics helps to clarify and articulate core values, acceptable practice and professional boundaries.
• It can identify and prevent corrupt practices.
• It can articulate a duty of care, help prevent the abuse of power, and protect the wellbeing of young people in care.
• It can secure and restore public trust in youth workers.
• The existence of a code of ethics means that ignorance cannot be used to defend activities that can harm young people.
• A code of ethics, especially if it had a disciplinary capacity, can provide an official process to deal with unethical conduct.

Why we shouldn’t have a Code of Ethics:

• Imposing a code of practice is itself may be considered unethical because it imposes moral requirements and in doing so overrides the individual’s right and need to act according to their conscience.
• It can remove the worker’s ‘rightful’ entitlements to exercise professional judgement.
• It is very difficult, if not impossible, to identify an agreed-upon set of values in the context of a multicultural, pluralistic society.
• A code of ethics will not stop unethical conduct.
• It sets up a watchdog or policing mechanism that can become cumbersome and/or oppressive.

Unsurprisingly, the debate varies across all states and territories, as summarised below,

NSW: In 2004, YAPA endorsed the Fairbridge Code of Ethics, having conducted a census of youth services in NSW in 2002 which found that 80% supported work towards a state / national code. Since then, YAPA has used its publications, online communications and training to support discussions about ethical practice in youth work, and YAPA looks forward to NSW services taking part in discussions led by AYAC towards a national code.

VIC: In Victoria YACVic is very proud to have developed a Code of Ethical Practice, following an extensive consultation process with youth workers, youth service organisations, youth work educators, employers of youth workers and young people themselves.

WA: Western Australia was the first State in Australia to introduce a Youth Work Code of Ethics, published in 2001 it has become a reference point both nationally and internationally. YACWA's continues to support ongoing discussions in Western Australia regarding professionalisation and adherence to a code of ethics and partner in this process with the WA Youth Work Association.

SA: The South Australian youth sector has expressed a wish for ongoing dialogue around ensuring that ethical practice has a place in youth work in SA. Whether this is achieved through the development of a series of resources intended to embed ethical standards of practice within organisations, a code of ethics, or through other means, will be the focus of ongoing consultation and engagement with the sector.

NT: There has been no work done in the NT around a code of ethics for the youth sector. Perhaps this debate will help kick start a move toward this.

QLD: Recent debate over whether, or not, to adopt a Code of Ethics for youth work has been characterised by an uncritical assumption that having a code is a good thing … that it will automatically produce more ethical practice or protect against unethical practice. In 2007 YANQ released a paper titled: 'Conservatising Youth Work? :Dangers of adopting a code of Ethics" written by Suzi Quixley and Siyavash Doostkhah, in consultation with youth workers in Queensland. This paper challenges these assumptions and puts an alternate point of view about how ethical practice can be achieved in work with young people.

TAS: At the beginning of 2011, the Youth Network of Tasmania convened a working group of sector representatives to research Australian and international codes.  The WA code will be the basis for a Tasmanian Code of Ethics, which will be updated and adapted following extensive sector consultation in the coming year.

ACT: In 2003 the Youth Work Code of Ethics (ACT) was agreed to by the sector and launched at the Youth Coalition of the ACT’s biannual conference.  Professional Ethics and Youth Work: A Model for Strengthening Youth Work Practice in the ACT.  This code of ethics, modelled closely on the West Australian code, provided an early foundation for identifying what might be the distinctive values, goals and aspirations of youth work in the ACT.