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Code of Ethics
Introduction
1.1 This Code has been compiled by the Director of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) and relates to the standards of practice for all practitioners holding professional membership with the IICT.
1.2 This Code of Ethics is the professional base standard expected of all practitioners so as to preserve and enhance the reputation of the IICT and the public at large.
1.3 This Code applies to all practitioners who are, or who become, members of the IICT.
1.4 The IICT Director reserves the right to amend the Code of Ethics as and when it is deemed necessary. Should amendments be made, all IICT Members will be informed of these changes.
Propriety
2.1 Client, student and public welfare shall take priority over self interest of members, employers and colleagues.
2.2 Confidentiality of client information must be observed at all times. In the case where client information is shared, consent must first be obtained from the client or legal guardian. Legal and contractual limits must be made clear to clients where appropriate.
2.3 IICT Members shall not behave in any manner that may bring the IICT or the members’ profession into disrepute.
2.4 All IICT Members will, at all times, maintain ethical standards and show politeness and consideration to their clients. Members will conduct themselves professionally so as to comply with generally accepted standards of moral behaviour and decency.
2.5 Should any IICT Member be found to have transgressed any items of the Code of Ethics, their IICT Membership shall be revoked.
Competence
3.1 All IICT Members shall conduct their professional practice with reasonable skill and learning. In no way shall any IICT Member misrepresent their level of training, expertise, experience, or qualification.
3.2 IICT Members shall not attempt to offer work or advice beyond their level of competence or training.
Responsibility
4.1 All IICT Members must be personally responsible for professional decisions and must give due consideration to the foreseeable consequences of their actions within their field of expertise.
4.2 When working with, or for, other persons or organisations, all IICT Members shall maintain the highest standard of professional integrity.
4.3 All IICT Members must recommend clients seek expert medical attention or psychological help, in the event that a client requires assistance that falls outside of the individual practitioners’ level of expertise, field/s of experience and/or qualifications.
Consulting
5.1 Clinical, consulting and evaluative information must be kept confidential and may only be communicated for professional purposes with the consent of the client, or as may be required by law.
5.2 If client records are kept by the practitioner, these shall be stored and disposed of in a confidential manner.
5.3 When clients are unable to give informed consent, due to age, medical condition, psychological state etc, consent is required from the client’s Legal or Enduring Guardian prior to treatment.
5.4 Minors must be accompanied for treatment by a parent or guardian, or written permission for such treatment must be obtained by a parent or guardian.
Client Relationship
6.1 All IICT Members shall respect the client’s physical/emotional state, and shall not abuse clients through actions, words or silence, nor take advantage of the therapeutic relationship.
6.2 IICT Members shall in no way participate in sexual activity with a client. IICT Members must consider the client’s comfort zone and honour the client’s requests as much as possible within personal, professional and ethical limits. Members must acknowledge the inherent worth and individuality of each person and must not discriminate against clients or fellow practitioners.
6.3 In the event that a IICT Member and consulting client within their said profession should wish to participate in an intimate sexual relationship, any professional services must be terminated and the client be referred to another practitioner of the said profession.
6.4 Financial arrangements must be made in advance and be understood by clients, ensuring they safeguard the client’s interests. All fee structures, cancellation penalties (if any) and other relevant information or conditions must be clearly displayed by the practitioner to the client, prior to treatment commencement.
Professional Conduct, Development & Insurance
7.1 Breaches of the IICT Code of Ethics must be attempted to be informally resolved directly with the complainant prior to contacting IICT for formal grievance proceedings. Members in dispute may wish to find an agreed mediator to facilitate a suitable outcome for all parties.
7.2 In the event that breaches cannot be informally resolved, the complainant should inform the IICT in writing to begin the formal grievance process.
7.3 In no way shall an IICT Member disparage, nor publicly criticise, another IICT Member.
7.4 All IICT Members shall keep their professional skills and knowledge current per the guidelines of the members’ profession.
7.5 All IICT Members are required to obtain and maintain Public Liability Insurance within three months of becoming an approved member. Insurance can be obtained through IICT’s recommended broker or another provider of the member’s choosing. Insurance must be obtained to an appropriate level under the provisions and protocols of the practitioners’ profession.
Advertising
8.1 All IICT Members are permitted to advertise themselves as such (per their approved membership level) for as long as their membership remains current. For those who cancel their membership or allow it to expire, all IICT seals, logos and references to IICT must be removed from their website, social media and/or promotional materials immediately.
8.2 IICT Members shall not make claims or statements which may bring their profession or the IICT into disrepute.
8.3 No IICT Member shall falsely imply sponsorship or verification by any organisation which has not given their consent to do so.
8.4 All IICT Members shall ensure that any advertising mentioning the IICT name shall be ethical and reserved in nature. In no way shall any member make exaggerated or misleading claims in their advertising bearing the IICT name.
8.5 IICT Members shall make every attempt to inform prospective IICT Members of our Code of Ethics and the provisions and costs of becoming an IICT Member. In no way shall any member attempt to mislead, nor coerce, another into joining the IICT. In all cases, members will direct the prospective client to the IICT website where the IICT’s Code of Ethics, guidelines for membership, and application can be obtained.
8.6 IICT Members must only advertise themselves in accordance with the membership level and modalities approved on their IICT Membership. In the event a member is providing services outside what is included in their IICT Membership, these services must be advertised separately to the IICT name.
Code of Conduct
Did you know that as a Complementary Therapist working in Australia, you need to be aware of the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers?
It can be a very dense and dry subject, but we’ve pulled out the important information you need to know and given you the key takeaways!
- What is the National Code of Conduct for
- Health Care Workers?
- Who does it apply to?
- What does the code include?
- National Code of Conduct by state/territory.
- What next?
- What if I have further questions?
What is the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers?
The National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers in Australia (often called the Code of Conduct or National Code) establishes
minimum standards of ethical and professional conduct for;
1) Unregistered healthcare workers
2) Registered healthcare workers providing services outside their regulated scope.
The code aims to protect the public by ensuring that healthcare workers provide safe and ethical care.
The National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers is enforceable under law in states and territories where it has been implemented. It is backed by legislation, and health complaints entities (HCEs) and each region have the authority to enforce it.
Who does it apply to?
The Code applies to all unregistered health practitioners, such as massage therapists, naturopaths, Reiki practitioners, and others, not regulated under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
It is also binding on registered health practitioners when they deliver services outside their registered scope of practice.
Each state and territory in Australia is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Code, through complaints processes Noncompliance can result in prohibition orders preventing individuals from practicing.
What does the code include?
Below are the main clauses (further detail is set out in sub-clauses):
Clause 1: Healthcare workers to provide services in a safe and ethical manner
Clause 2: Healthcare workers to obtain consent
Clause 3: Appropriate conduct in relation to treatment advice
Clause 4: Healthcare workers to report concerns about treatment or care provided by other health care workers
Clause 5: Healthcare workers to take appropriate action in response to adverse events
Clause 6: Healthcare workers to adopt standard precautions for infection control
Clause 7: Healthcare workers diagnosed with infectious medical conditions
Clause 8: Healthcare workers not to make claims to cure certain serious illnesses
Clause 9: Healthcare workers not to misinform their clients
Clause 10: Healthcare workers not to practice under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Clause 11: Healthcare workers with certain mental or physical impairment
Clause 12: Healthcare workers not to financially exploit clients
Clause 13: Healthcare workers not to engage in sexual misconduct
Clause 14: Healthcare workers to comply with relevant privacy laws
Clause 15: Healthcare workers to keep appropriate records
Clause 16: Healthcare workers to be covered by appropriate insurance
Clause 17: Healthcare workers to display the code of conduct and other information
National Code of Conduct by state/territory:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Victoria
- Tasmania
What's next?
- Read the National Code of Conduct and ensure you comply with all clauses
- Display or make available at all premises or locations where they practice, a copy of the National Code of Conduct for Healthcare Workers, along with information for clients on how complaints can be made
- Ensure you are covered by appropriate insurance, either through IICT’s preferred partner or an insurance provider of your choosing
- Only provide services within your scope of practice or training
- If your work involves minimal physical risk (e.g., Reiki or other low-risk complementary therapies), having a basic first aid kit readily available may be sufficient to meet safety standards
- If your work involves a higher likelihood of incidents requiring immediate response (e.g., massage therapy or physical therapy), or if clients are in vulnerable situations (e.g., prone to fainting, allergic reactions, or other medical conditions), a formal HLTAID011 Provide First Aid qualification may be expected
What if I have further questions?
If you have specific questions about the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers in any region of Australia, you should contact the relevant health complaints entity (HCE) for your state or territory. These organisations are responsible for implementing and enforcing the Code in their respective regions.
Contact Details by Region:
Australian Capital Territory
- Health Professionals Tribunal
Website: https://www.acat.act.gov.au/
New South Wales
- Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC)
- Website: www.hccc.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 043 159
Northern Territory
- Health and Community Services Complaints Commission (HCSCC)
- Website: www.hcscc.nt.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 004 474
Queensland
- Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO)
- Website: www.oho.qld.gov.au
- Phone: 133 OHO (133 646)
South Australia
- Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC)
- Website: www.hcscc.sa.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 232 007
Tasmania
- Office of the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC)
- Website: www.healthcomplaints.tas.gov.au
- Phone: 1800 001 170
Victoria
- Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC)
- Website: www.hcc.vic.gov.au
- Phone: 1300 582 113
Western Australia
- Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)
- Website: www.hadsco.wa.gov.au
- Phone: (08) 6551 7600 or 1800 813 583 (Freecall for WA regions)
IICT Aims
- To ensure all IICT Members will adhere to, and comply with, all sections of the IICT Constitution and Code of Ethics.
- To raise the overall public awareness of complementary therapies and practices, as well as related healing arts and natural health sciences.
- To ensure complementary therapists function at the highest professional standard.
- To foster and encourage a ‘bridging’ between conventional allopathic medical and allied professions.
- To maintain overall professional standards through membership with the International Institute for Complementary Therapists.
- To provide an international voice for complementary therapists and health professionals.
- To encourage the sharing of knowledge and good will among IICT Members.
- To promote the needs of complementary therapists and identify future directions for the complementary health industry.
- To create community and fellowship within the diverse complementary health industry.
- To provide affiliation and greater credibility for complementary therapists via professional membership with the IICT.
- To promote consumer confidence in the complementary health industry and complementary health practitioners.
Constitution
This Constitution was Certified and Adopted on August 5th 2002.
CONTENTS Constitution:
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Name
The International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT)
Objects
1. To ensure all Members will adhere to, and comply with all sections of this Constitution and the IICT Code of Ethics.
2. To raise the overall public awareness of Complementary Therapies and Practices. As well as related healing arts and health sciences.
3. To foster and encourage a ‘bridging’ between conventional allopathic medical, and allied professions.
4. To maintain overall professional standards via membership to a recognised International Institute for Complementary Therapists.
5. To encourage the sharing of knowledge and goodwill among IICT members.
6. To create community and fellowship among the diverse Complementary Health Field.
7. To provide affiliation and greater credibility for Complementary Therapists via professional affiliation with the IICT.
Membership
The International Institute for Complementary Therapists offers Membership for the following practices/approved-modalities/: CLICK HERE
Qualification of Membership
All applicants must provide Certification in at least one of the IICT’s approved modalities, along with the submission of the IICT Application and Payment of fees.
*In the case where the membership type excludes proof of qualifications, the applicant is required to submit all necessary information in order to be granted the approved membership status that is being applied for.
Application of Membership
All applicants must complete and submit the IICT application, along with attached certificate/s* in order to become a member of the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT).
Applications can be submitted:
1. Via our online application form with supporting documentation of Certification*.
2. Via Post with copies of Certification*
3. Via Fax with copies of Certification*
Membership Fees
1. Membership fees are to be paid in full, 365 days from joining the IICT. All IICT memberships are on recurring billing and as such, all members are invoiced 14 days prior to expiry to advise the nominated card will be debited.
2. In the case where membership has lapsed and a practitioner wishes to renew their membership, regardless of the time lapsed the practitioner will be required to pay the full annual membership fee.
3. All members are entitled to opt out of renewing their IICT membership by contacting the IICT and advising this request in writing (email or via post).
Resignation of a Member
Any member wishing to resign may do so at any time by informing the IICT Director via the following means: Email, Fax or in Writing.
In the case where a new or existing IICT member wishes to resign, the IICT can offer a full refund on membership fees paid (minus postage and admin costs) within 30 days of joining or renewing membership. After this 30 day cooling off period the IICT will not offer a part or whole refund on the remaining membership period, see our refund policy for details.
In the event an IICT Member wishes to re-instate the IICT Membership which has lapsed, this decision for renewing IICT Membership is solely at the discretion of the Director of the IICT.
Duty of Disclosure
The Director of the IICT reserves the right to dismiss any IICT Member who has comported themselves in such a manner which may be seen to bring the IICT, its fellow members; its management and directors into disrepute.
Alteration of Constitution
The Director reserves the right to amend the IICT Constitution as, and when, it is deemed necessary. Should such be the case all IICT members will be informed of these changes.
IICT Mission Statement
The International Institute for Complementary Therapists mission is to provide membership for all recognised Complementary Therapists creating a recognised and unified standard of practice amongst all complementary healing arts and health service practitioners.