Code of Practice and Professional Standards

There is no unified professional background or single qualification for a disability practitioner that provides an existing set of practices and standards, although you may have codes of practice from your foundation discipline, for example social work or psychology.

Disability practitioners are encouraged to become members of the Australian Tertiary Education Network on Disability (ATEND).  ATEND has developed a Code of Ethics and Professional Standards for its members. Through this and other initiatives, ATEND aims to improve its members’ professional practices and ensure a high quality service is provided to students across the sector.

Under the code and standards set by ATEND, members:

• shall function in accordance with the ATEND Code of Ethics and Professional Standards
• shall have and continue to develop specialised knowledge and understanding of people with disability
• are bound by their employing agency’s employment arrangements
• shall respond in a professional manner to all persons with disability who seek their assistance
• shall safeguard the confidential nature of the student disability information and shall only share that information after informed consent has been provided
• shall establish and maintain professional records
• should represent themselves to the public with accuracy