Student Welcome Group Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct sets out the basis upon members of student welcome groups (SWG) involved in the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway (RSSP), managed by Skill Path Australia, will work together to support the refugee student which we are supporting under the RSSP. All group members are required to sign the Code of Conduct as part of onboarding to be part of a SWG. Breaches of this Code of Conduct may be reported to Skill Path as part of our Complaints Procedure.

Mutual respect

In working with one another and in supporting refugee student/s:

  • I will be considerate and respectful.

  • I will respect diversity and not discriminate against the refugee student(s) including on the basis of beliefs, gender, religion, sexual orientation, culture, ability and experience of others. 

  • I will be mindful of the power imbalances that may exist in our interactions and will approach all engagements with cultural humility, listening with openness and seeking to learn from the lived experiences of refugee students.

  • I will be sensitive to individual preferences, cultural norms and sensitivities.

Healthy boundaries

  • I will act in a responsible manner which includes maintaining friendly and supportive relationships while respecting interpersonal boundaries with the refugee student/s. 

  • I understand that the SWG role is limited to informal, non-professional peer support and does not involve casework or counselling responsibilities.

  • I will try to ensure that the refugee student/s have the information that they need to make informed choices and endeavour to support them rather than doing things for them or making decisions for them.

Autonomy and privacy

  • I will respect the privacy and autonomy of the refugee student/s and protect their safety and privacy. This includes adhering to any public health directives that might apply, including in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

  • I will respect and support the decisions that the refugee student/s make about their own lives.

  • I will not share information about refugee student/s with others that may be considered confidential or personal, without their permission. Confidential or personal information may include contact details, photographs/videos, etc.

Safety and reporting requirements

  • I am committed to contributing to a safe and respectful SWG, free from any forms of abuse or exploitation, such as sexual harassment, bullying, threats of or actual violence, emotional abuse, racism, gender-based discrimination, coercion or exploitation. I am responsible for reporting any incidences of abuse or exploitation within the SWG to Skill Path Australia. 

  • I will immediately inform the group leader and Skill Path of any concerns we have for the safety of the refugee student/s including but not limited to the matters identified as ‘critical incidents’ in the RSSP Settlement Guidebook. If a student raises any concerns about the behaviour of a SWP member, we will bring these to the attention of the group leader, and Skill Path Australia. If the concern relates to a group leader we will bring it to the attention of Skill Path Australia.

  • I have provided a valid criminal history check to Skill Path and will immediately disclose to Skill Path any charges, convictions and outcomes of a serious offence, which may arise during my 12-month official involvement in the RSSP.

Ethical conduct

  • I will disclose any perceived conflicts of interest to refugee student/s, for example, if we recommend a service in which we have a personal or financial interest.

  • We will not provide refugee student/s with legal or migration advice, or other professional advice unless we are qualified to give this advice.

Media

  • I will not share personal information about the refugee student/s with the media or in any other public forum without the informed consent of the individual .

  • If I plan to speak to a media outlet about the RSSP, I will notify Skill Path.

  • If I become aware of a refugee student being interviewed by a media outlet, I will notify Skill Path.

  • I will not share information, photos or personal stories online about the refugee student/s without seeking their permission. This includes sharing via communication services (e.g. WhatsApp) and social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter).

Breaching the Code of Conduct

Breaches of this Code of Conduct may be reported to Skill Path as part of our Complaints Procedure. Skill Path will review any breaches of this Code of Conduct and will take appropriate action. This may include issuing a warning, providing further training, bringing the matter to the attention of other members of the SWG, or in serious breaches barring individuals or groups from further participation in the RSSP.