Professional Conduct

The professional conduct process may consider concerns about a current member’s compliance with the Professional Practice Standard™, Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct™, membership conditions, credential use or public representations.

It does not replace emergency services, courts, law enforcement, workplace processes, insurers or any regulator with lawful jurisdiction.

Information should be received privately through a structured channel. The Institute will seek enough information to understand the concern without asking for unnecessary sensitive material. Immediate safety issues and matters outside the Institute’s role will be identified and directed appropriately.

The member will ordinarily be told the substance of a concern and given a reasonable opportunity to respond. Relevant information will be considered with an open mind. Decisions will not be based merely on the fact that a complaint was made.

Anyone assessing a matter must disclose and appropriately manage conflicts. Information will be shared only as needed for a fair process, safety or legal obligation. Retaliation against a person for raising a genuine concern or participating in a process is inconsistent with professional membership.

Depending on the substantiated facts, outcomes may include no further action, guidance, education, supervision, undertakings, conditions, monitoring, suspension or termination of membership. Protective action may be taken while a matter is assessed where a credible immediate risk requires it.

A person materially affected should receive reasons for a decision, subject to privacy and lawful limits. A fair review pathway should be available, with a reviewer who was not the original decision-maker where practicable. The Institute will retain proportionate records of the process and outcome.