FYA is committed to protecting Children from harm, exploitation and abuse. FYA staff, volunteers and contractors must, at all times, treat all Children and Young People with dignity and respect and must endeavour to actively promote and prioritise the right of every Child and Young Person to feel physically and emotionally safe. The best interests of the Child should be the primary consideration. This Code of Conduct sets clear boundaries for the behaviour of all FYA staff, Board directors, contractors and volunteers. All FYA staff, Board directors, contractors and volunteers are expected to sign a copy of this Code of Conduct to demonstrate that they have read and understood their obligations under it.

1. Read and abide by the FYA Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy, available on the FYA website.
2. Act with integrity, honestly and morally, and in accordance with this Code, Australian laws and legislation, any laws and legislation applicable to the location in which work is being performed (eg. international laws), and FYA’s policies and procedures.
3. Conduct myself in a manner consistent with the values of FYA, listening and valuing Children and Young People’s ideas and opinions.
4. Actively create a safe and inclusive environment, treat all Children and Young People with respect regardless of their race, gender, language, religion, opinions, nationality, socio-economic status, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or other status.
5. Immediately report any concern for the safety or wellbeing of a Child or Young Person, or breach of FYA’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy or this Children and Young People Safeguarding Code of Conduct in accordance with FYA’s reporting procedures outlined in FYA’s Complaints Procedure.

1. Engage in any form of Grooming, Child Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation or Emotional Abuse. (Definitions for these terms are provided at the end of this document.)
2. Engage in physical contact that is unprofessional, abusive, unnecessary, makes a Child or Young Person feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or is culturally insensitive.
3. Discriminate against or act in favour of particular Children or Young People to the exclusion of others when conducting FYA activities.
4. Behave in a manner or use language towards Children or Young People that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, intended to humiliate, or is culturally inappropriate or insensitive.
5. Consume cigarettes, alcohol or illicit drugs when conducting FYA activities with Children and Young People who are participants in FYA’s programs or activities.
6. Condone or participate in behaviour with Children or Young People involved in FYA’s programs or activities that is unsafe, illegal or abusive.
7. Use any computer, mobile phone, video camera, camera or social media in a way that would exploit or harass a Child or Young Person or provide access to Child Sexual Exploitation material (or any material that would be considered to be inappropriate for viewing by Children or Young People).
8. Request, receive or accept benefits or gifts (other than gifts valued at less than $20), or solicit any form of advantage, from Children or Young People involved in FYA’s activities or programs or from their families.
9. Seek out, make contact with or spend time privately with any Child or Young Person connected with a FYA program or activity outside of that program or activity (other than contact connected to a program or activity such as a debrief or feedback session, or in circumstances where the Child or Young Person is a Family Member, or there is a pre-existing personal relationship with the Child or Young Person that has previously been disclosed to FYA).
10. Encourage a Child or Young Person to communicate with me in a private setting. This excludes circumstances where the Child or Young Person is a Family Member, or there is a pre-existing personal relationship with the Child or Young Person that has previously been disclosed to FYA.

1. Obtain informed consent from a Child or Young Person or their parent or guardian (as required by FYA’s policies and procedures) before photographing or filming that Child or Young Person, and providing an explanation to the Child, Young Person and/or the parent or guardian of the Child of how the content will be used.
2. Be mindful of and take care to ensure cultural or legal restrictions for reproducing personal images are adhered to before publishing or circulating content that includes an image of a Child or Young Person.
3. Ensure that any photograph or video of a Child or Young Person that is produced, used, published or distributed by FYA presents them in a dignified and respectful manner.
4. Ensure that any images of or stories about Children and Young People that are produced, used, published or distributed by FYA are an honest representation of the context and facts.
5. Ensure that any image, video or story does not reveal any identifying information about a Child or Young Person which the Child, Young Person or their parent or guardian has requested be kept confidential.
6. When using personal devices or FYA equipment to capture any images of any Child or Young Person, follow the FYA Safeguarding procedure : ensure you upload all captured images onto the FYA drive within 48 hours and delete them from your personal device.