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Code of Conduct – Workplace Ethics,Conduct and Behaviour

Human Resources PolicyEffective Date: January 2011

1 PURPOSE

To outline the obligations of management and employees to comply with the Code ofConduct for the Queensland Public Service (the Code of Conduct) and contribute tothe achievement of a professional and productive work culture within QueenslandHealth, characterised by the absence of any form of unlawful or inappropriatebehaviour. 

2 APPLICATION

This policy applies to all Queensland Health employees, volunteers, students,contractors and consultants, or anyone who works in any other capacity forQueensland Health.

3 GUIDELINES

Guidelines may be developed to facilitate implementation of this policy. The guidelinesmust be consistent with this policy.

4 DELEGATION

The ‘delegate’ is as listed in the Queensland Health Human Resource DelegationsManual as amended from time to time.

5 REFERENCES

•  Public Sector Ethics Act 1994  

•  Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service

•  Assault in the Workplace HR Policy E3 (QH-POL-106:2008)

•  Sexual Harassment HR Policy E5 (QH-POL-228:2008)•  Workplace Harassment HR Policy E13 (QH-POL-266:2010)

•  Performance Appraisal and Development HR Policy G9 (QH-POL-189:2008)

•  Public Interest Disclosures (Whistleblowers) HR Policy I5 (QH-POL-202:2009)

6 SUPERSEDES

•  IRM 3.1 Workplace Ethics, Conduct and Behaviour – Policy Statement

•  IRM 3.1-1 Code of Conduct 2006

Please note that any material printed is regarded as an uncontrolled copy. It is the responsibility of the person printing the document torefer frequently to the Queensland Health Internet site for updates.

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HR Policy E1January 2011 

7 POLICY

This policy and the Code of Conduct applies at all times when performing officialduties including when we are representing Queensland Health at conferences, trainingevents, on business trips and attending work-related social events.

7.1 Queensland Health commitment to a workplace free of unlawful orinappropriate behaviour

Queensland Health is committed to creating and maintaining an environment forpatients, clients, visitors and employees which is professional, client responsive, safeand free of any form of unlawful or inappropriate behaviour. This commitment supportsthe expectations of the people of Queensland that all activities of Queensland Healthare conducted with efficiency, impartiality and integrity.

7.2 Employee obligations

All employees of Queensland Health have an obligation to ensure their personalconduct and behaviour is at all times professional and lawful and does not reflectadversely on the reputation of Queensland Health and the Queensland Government.

All employees of Queensland Health are required to perform their duties to a highstandard and demonstrate impartiality and integrity in fulfilling their responsibilities.Employees are to ensure there is no real or apparent conflict of interest between theirprivate activities and their official duties.

Some of the obligations of employees in relation to workplace ethics, conduct andbehaviour are the subject of specific provisions of various Acts and Regulations, e.g.the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 . Other obligations are generally acknowledgedconventions that reflect community expectations of people employed by QueenslandHealth.

7.3 Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service and related policies

The Code of Conduct applies to all Queensland Health employees. The Code ofConduct also applies to volunteers, students, contractors, consultants and others whoprovide services, exercise power or control resources for or on behalf of QueenslandHealth.

The Code of Conduct continues to apply to people while they are on leave, suspendedfrom the workplace or outside of their ‘usual’ work environment, e.g. attendingworkshops or conferences.

The Code of Conduct provides standards of conduct and workplace behaviourrequired of executive officers, managers/supervisors and employees in QueenslandHealth to build a positive workplace culture. The Code of Conduct clearly describesappropriate lawful and ethical standards of conduct and behaviour expected of allemployees of Queensland Health. These requirements are further supported by thefollowing policies:

• Workplace Harassment HR Policy E13 (QH-POL-266:2010)

• Assault in the Workplace HR Policy E3 (QH-POL-106:2008)

Code of Conduct – Workplace Ethics, Conduct and Behaviour Page 2 of 3

Please note that any material printed is regarded as an uncontrolled copy. It is the responsibility of the person printing the document torefer frequently to the Queensland Health Internet site for updates.

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HR Policy E1January 2011 

• Sexual Harassment HR Policy E5 (QH-POL-228:2008)

• Public Interest Disclosures (Whistleblowers) HR Policy I5 (QH-POL-202:2009).

All employees of Queensland Health are required to be familiar with the Code ofConduct and the above related human resource policies. Employees are to ensurethey observe these expected standards of conduct and behaviour at all times. An

employee who does not comply with the requirements of the Code of Conduct andrelated policies may be subject to disciplinary action.

8 APPLYING THE POLICY

8.1 Compliance with the Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service

All Queensland Health executive officers, managers/supervisors and employees arerequired to comply with the Code of Conduct.

8.2 Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service training

All employees of Queensland Health are required to undertake training in the Code ofConduct during induction.

A requirement to continue to comply with the Code of Conduct is to be included in allemployees’ Performance Appraisal and Development (PAD) plans.

8.3 Accessing the Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service

The Code of Conduct can be accessed via the Queensland Health or Public ServiceCommission websites:

Code of Conduct for the Queensland Public Service 

Hard copies of the Code of Conduct are available through local People and Cultureunits for employees who do not have intranet/internet access.

9 HISTORY

January 2011 Amended to incorporate the single Code of Conduct forthe Queensland Public Service effective 1 January

2011.April 2008 Developed as a result of the HR policy consolidationproject.

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Please note that any material printed is regarded as an uncontrolled copy. It is the responsibility of the person printing the document torefer frequently to the Queensland Health Internet site for updates.