National ACE Code of Ethics
The National Athlete Career and Education (ACE) Code of Ethics has been adopted from the Code of Ethics in the CICA Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners. .
The purpose of the Code is to:
- Provide a practical guide for professional behaviour and practice for National ACE members and assist them to solve ethical dilemmas when counselling elite athletes
- Promote confidence in our profession to our communities
- Uphold the integrity of the National ACE network
- Inform the Australian public about the standards to which we adhere
The Code of Ethics will not cover every situation in the program. There may be policies or procedures set down by the state or territory in which the National ACE member works, or specific issues which are covered by an industrial agreement or award. National ACE members who are registered with the Institute of Teaching should also be cognisant of the Code of Conduct for these institutes.
1. Ethical principles for professional competency and conduct
National ACE members:
- Obtain qualifications necessary to provide career development services, including those qualifications required to undertake specialised tasks or roles and/or work with specialised populations.
- Represent their professional competencies, training and experience accurately
- Function within the boundaries of their training and experience
- Refrain from consciously dictating to, judging or coercing athlete choices, values, lifestyles, plans or beliefs
- Enhance athlete autonomy and sense of self worth and encourage students to develop and reflect on their own values
- Ensure assessment tools, if used, are chosen, administered and interpreted appropriately and accurately; explain the content, purposes, potential benefits and results of tests and interventions in language that is easily understood by athletes, their parents (where relevant) and the sporting community. National ACE members will only use assessment tools for which they have appropriate training.
- Monitor, maintain and enhance professional competencies
- Seek and participate in continuing professional development (CPD) in order to remain current with innovations and trends in the contexts, processes and content of career development
- Ensure that material contained in web-based programs, resource materials and career development programs is current and accurate; ensure information provided to athletes is in a form that can be readily understood by the athlete, their parents (where relevant) and the sporting community.
- Undertake research and report findings, using procedures that are consistent with the accepted ethical and scientific standards of educational, psychological and social research practices
2. Ethical principles for career development practitioner-student relationships
2.1 Equity and Diversity
National ACE members:
- Respect the dignity of each athlete for whom career development services are rendered
- Ensure that each athlete’s feelings and cultural customs are respected
- Provide access to information on the services being provided, i.e. purposes, goals, techniques, policies and ethical standards – as appropriate.
- Accept the rights of the athlete to make independent choices and to take responsibility for those choices and their consequences
- Deal with each athlete fairly, equitably and without prejudice, respecting their values, beliefs and life experiences and those of their families and the communities to which they belong
- Avoid all forms of discrimination
- Ensure that the services provided are culturally appropriate and relevant to athletes’ needs, and valid and reliable concerning the information they provide
- Use non-discriminatory, current and accurate information within whatever medium is used
2.2 Confidentiality, disclosure and informed consent
National ACE members:
- Maintain a current understanding of the legal requirements and legal responsibilities that pertain to athlete rights within the sporting community
- Inform athletes of the limits of confidentiality when it arises
- Preserve the athlete’s right to privacy
- Ensure athlete counselling records (e.g. case notes) are maintained in a secure place and only reveal confidential matters when appropriate for the athlete’s benefit.
- Refrain from discussing athletes’ personal problems in situations where the information will not be treated confidentially
- Avoid or disclose conflicts of interest which compromise the best interests of their athletes
2.3 Scope of practice
National ACE members:
- Conduct career development services for which they are appropriately trained and currently qualified
- Are aware of the role of other professionals and agencies and when athletes should be referred to them for assistance
- Make appropriate referral when their own competency does not meet the athlete’s need or when their professional assistance cannot be provided or continued
- Contextualise career development theory and practice according to work setting and societal context
3. Ethical principles for professional relationships
National ACE members:
- Avoid conflicts of interest
- Resolve conflict between professional ethical standards and directives or practices within the workplace through ethical decision-making and appropriate consultation
- Advocate for and assist in the development of career development services that are ethically rendered and relevant to athlete needs in cooperation with National ACE, policymakers, organisations, community agencies and other relevant stakeholders
- Respect and acknowledge the contribution of other professionals
- Cooperate with other professionals and/or colleagues according to the ethical practices and procedures relevant to the situation
