YAPA encourages youth workers and youth agencies in NSW to publicly endorse and support the Code of Ethics for Youth Work, by adding their name to this voluntary register.
What does it mean to be on the register?
Individual youth workers
Unlike some other professions, NSW youth workers are not required to belong to any professional body, or to be registered by a government agency. The Code of Ethics is not a law in NSW, and complying with it is up to you and your agency.
By adding your name to the register you are saying to your peers, employers and to young people that you support ethical practice in youth work.
You can add your name to the register regardless of whether or not your agency adds its name to the register - it is your own decision.
Youth agencies & projects
By adding your agency's name to the register, the agency is stating publicly that it supports ethical practice in youth work.
Should the agency adopt the Code as agency policy first?
It is not necessary to have an agency policy requiring youth workers to comply with the Code, when you add the agency name to the register. Adding your agency to the register is a symbolic act and a statement of the general direction the agency is heading.
Ultimately if your agency expects its youth workers to comply with the Code, it will need an agency policy which includes the Code, or policies which cover the same principles (eg. your agency may already have a confidentiality policy which covers Principle 7).
However your agency may need to do some work in preparation for adopting the Code as agancy policy. You may need to:
- discuss with staff and management the implications of adopting the Code into agency policy
- educate staff and management about the contents and meaning of the Code
- develop or revise detailed policies to implement the principles of the Code.
Once the Code or its principles are reflected in your agency policies, an alleged breach of the Code by an agency youth worker may become a disciplinary matter. For this reason, YAPA believes that it is essential that your agency doesn't rush the process.
It is also essential that both youth workers and youth agency managers (employers) have access to guidance (documents and people) on how to interpret the Code. YAPA provides some of this guidance via:
- youthwork ethics blog - an interactive discussion forum at
www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/ethics/blog.php - written resources at www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/ethics
You can be on more than one register or comply with more than one code
You, or your agency, may already be on another register, eg. the RYDON Code of Ethics in the Hunter Valley. You may be required to comply with another code, eg. the ethical codes for psychologists and social workers.
You can still add your name to the YAPA register. This Code does not conflict with other codes that we are aware of.
Registers
There are 2 parts to the register:
- youth workers register at
www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/ethics/registerworkers.php - youth agencies register at
www.yapa.org.au/youthwork/ethics/registeragencies.php.
