DIETITIANSASSOCIATIONOFAUSTRALIABYLAW

CODEOFPROFESSIONALCONDUCTFormemberswithAustralianrecogniseddieteticqualifications,

andnonmemberswithAPDstatus

(BylawMadePursuanttoClauses9,21,36oftheConstitution)RevisedMarch2013

PurposeTheDietitiansAssociationofAustralia(DAA)isaselfregulatoryprofessionalbodywhichsetsstandardsforpractice,fostersprofessionalismandprovidesamechanismforinternaldisciplinaryproceduresfortheprotectionofmembers,thepublicandthecredibilityoftheprofession.TheCodeofProfessionalConductsetsminimumnationalstandardsforaccountableconductwhichpromotesthehealthofthepublicandengendersconfidenceintheservicesprovidedbymembersandnonmemberAccreditedPractisingDietitians.ThosesubjecttothisCodeofPracticeshalladheretotheConstitution,Bylaws,rulesoftheAssociation,andalllawsoftheCommonwealth.TheattachedStatementofEthicalPracticeprovidestheprinciplesunderpinningtheCodeofProfessionalConductforthemembersoftheAssociationwithAustralianrecogniseddieteticqualifications,andnonmemberswithAPDstatuswhoareequallyreferredtoaspractitionersinthiscode.1.DefinitionPractice,forthepurposeofthisBylaw,isconsideredinthebroadesttermstocoveranyactivityconsideredtobewithintheacceptedscopeofaDietitian/Nutritionistswork.2.CriteriaGoverningProfessionalConduct.Therearetwocriteriaunderwhichthecomplaintsanddisciplinaryprocessmaybeactivated.

a) Unsatisfactoryprofessionalconductdefinedas: conducthappeninginconnectionwiththepracticeofdieteticsthatfallsshortofthe

standardofcompetenceanddiligencethatamemberofthepublicorthepractitionerspeersisentitledtoexpectofareasonablycompetentDietitian/Nutritionist.

b)Professionalmisconductdefinedas: conductwhichinvolvesasubstantialorconsistentfailuretoreachormaintaina

reasonablestandardofcompetenceanddiligence;or

conducthappeninginconnectionwiththepracticeofNutrition/Dieteticsorotherwisethatwould,ifestablished,justifyafindingthatthepractitionerisnotafitandproperpersontocontinuetobeamemberoftheAssociationandengageinNutritionandDieteticpractice.

Professionalmisconductmayincludebeingconvictedofacriminaloffence.IfacomplainthasbeenmadeagainstapractitionerundertheComplaintsandDisciplinaryProcedureBylaw,andthatpractitionerbreachestheComplaintsandDisciplinaryProcedureBylawbycontacting,orattemptingtocontacteither:

(a) aDirectoroftheDAABoard;or(b) thepersonwhomadethecomplaintagainstthem

inrelationtothecomplaintthenthismayamounttoprofessionalmisconduct.3.ApplicationoftheCodeofProfessionalConduct

ItistheresponsibilityofeachpractitionertoevaluatepracticeandmaintaincompetenceaswellastoevaluatetheprofessionalstandardsandcontributetotheobjectsoftheAssociation.TheCodeofProfessionalConductshallbeadoptedbyallmemberswithAustralianrecogniseddieteticqualifications,andnonmemberswithAPDstatustoensurethattheywillcontinuetoberecognisedbythepublicasthemostvaluedandcrediblesourceoffoodandnutritioninformation.PractitionershavearesponsibilitytoinformrelevantorganisationsofviolatorsoftheDAACodeofProfessionalConductandotherlaws.TheCodeofProfessionalConductisenforcedbyDAAundertheComplaintsandDisciplinaryProcedureBylawandreviewedfromtimetotime.