The Aged Care Code of Conduct

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Asking and listening to what older people need and want.
• Talking to older people in a way that is easy to understand.
• Helping older people make decisions when they need support.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Forcing an older person to do something they don’t want to do.
• Not including the older person in decisions about their care and services.
• Keeping an older person away from places or activities they want to see or do.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Respecting an older person’s social, cultural, religious, ethnic and health background.
• Working in a way that helps older people feel comfortable and safe.
• Encouraging older people to speak up about their likes and dislikes.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Making fun of an older person’s social, cultural, religious, ethnic or health background.
• Talking down to an older person or treating them in a disrespectful way.
• Telling an older person their beliefs are wrong or silly.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Keeping older people’s personal information confidential, in line with provider policies.
• Knowing older people’s personal privacy needs and preferences.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Not asking older people for permission when you provide personal care and services.
• Providing personal care to an older person in a place that is not private.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Using equipment safely and in the way it's meant to be used.
• Having the right skills, experience and qualifications for the job.
• Following provider policies and procedures about safe and up-to-date work practices. 

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Delivering services where you don’t have the required skills or qualifications to do so.
• Not reporting unsafe equipment, unsafe practices or near misses to your provider.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Treating older people fairly and not taking advantage of them. 
• Being honest about your experience and training. 
• Helping older people understand the care and services you provide them.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Lying about what you know or what you hear and see.
• Not telling your provider about a conflict of interest. 
• Asking or encouraging an older person to give you money or a gift.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Knowing what to do if something that concerns you happens.
• Speaking up and reporting concerns to your provider to reduce the risk of harm.
• Making sure older people feel safe to speak up about their concerns or make a complaint. 

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Doing nothing about a safety or quality concern.
• Not being open and honest about a safety or quality concern.
• Threatening or telling an older person not to complain or raise their concerns.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Understanding situations that may hurt, upset or take advantage of an older person.
• Knowing how to identify violent, abusive or neglectful practices.
• Not taking part in any form of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse or sexual misconduct.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Physically forcing or threatening an older person to do something they don’t want to do.
• Neglecting, taking advantage of or abusing an older person.
• Acting in a sexual way with an older person.

Examples of behaviour we expect

• Following processes to help prevent harm to older people.
• Raising safety risks or concerns, in line with your provider’s systems and processes.
• Cooperating with your provider and with any investigation or inquiry.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour

• Not raising a suspicion or concern about violence toward, or abuse or neglect of, an older person.
• Not reporting a serious or reportable incident to your provider.
• Not supporting an older person to speak up about their concerns of misconduct.