Code Of Ethics

Code Of Ethics

Groom Team Australia Objects and Ideals

I. Mission

The mission of Groom Team Australia is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of pet styling in Australia, and to identify the best groomers and ambassadors of Australian dog grooming to compete at an International level .Groom Team Australia grants the privilege of membership to individuals committed to that mission who desire to promote and create a path for future groomers to follow and be proud of. Groom Team Australia endeavours to obtain recognition for those who are the elite of their field in Australian grooming and give ongoing encouragement and support to all others involved in the grooming industry and aid in the development and future of the grooming industry.

Code of Ethics

In order to assist all members to better serve the interests of those who participate in this organisation Groom Team Australia has adopted the Ethical Code which follows. This Code is not intended to establish a set of rules that will, by inclusion or exclusion, prescribe the appropriate behavior for Groom Team Australia members in every aspect of their participation. Rather, the Code offers general principles to guide the conduct, and the judicious appraisal of conduct, of all Groom Team Australia members in situations that have ethical implications. This Code is offered to guide and to affirm the will of all Groom Team Australia members to safeguard the best interests of Groom Team Australia by acting ethically at all times. This privilege of participation may, therefore, be withdrawn by Groom Team Australia for breach of this Code at any time if Groom Team Australia management determines that a member’s conduct is inconsistent with the mission of the organisation or the best interest of those who participate in it. Every Groom Team Australia member recognises and understands that although individuals are passionate and forthright concerning ideas and viewpoints, all decisions for Groom Team Australia will be made in a “ TEAM “ environment and will not highlight individual ideals and agendas.

I. Elements of the Code

A member of Groom Team Australia has a responsibility to be unselfish in the sharing of knowledge with fellow groomers. To always act in good faith and harmony and encourage and promote the professionalism and support of all past, present and future members of Groom Team Australia including their family , friends , supporters , management , staff and the grooming industry as a whole.

II. Responsibility

A member of Groom Team Australia has a responsibility to Groom Team Australia and the grooming industry in general which includes all rules and regulations, Code of Ethics and Code of Practice which govern it. Members of Groom Team Australia are charged with the responsibility for contributing to an environment which makes participation in the grooming of dogs a positive and rewarding experience. In order to achieve that result, each professional member has a special obligation to make decisions based on the best interests of all team members. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any member to:

1. Knowingly misrepresent the policies or actions of Groom Team Australia or its authorized representatives or any Code of Practice and Code of Ethics applicable to the Pet Industry in Australia.

2. Fail to resort (in the first instance) to the established procedures for making a complaint about the conduct of another Groom Team member, or attempting to reverse or ignoring a policy adopted by Groom Team Australia .

3. Breach the duty to maintain appropriately established confidence of Groom Team Australia or its members.

III. Communication

Members of Groom Team Australia have a duty to communicate honestly and openly with the organisation and its members. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any member to:

1. Misrepresent competitive achievements, professional qualifications, education, experience, eligibility, or affiliations.

2. Knowingly disseminate false or misleading information about another member

3. Avoid reporting any breach of the above to Groom Team Australia management .

IV. Conflict of Interest

Members of Groom Team Australia are responsible for avoiding both actual and perceived conflicts of interest in the conduct of business on behalf of the organisation. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any member to:

1. Use, or be perceived as using, Groom Team Australia properties, services, opportunities, intellectual property, authority or influence to gain private benefit without first gaining written approval by Groom Team Australia.

2. Fail, as an employee, director, officer or committee member of Groom Team Australia to complete an annual conflict of interest of form, or fail to complete that form accurately.

3. Incur expenses in furtherance of Groom Team Australia business without written permission from the management of Groom Team Australia.

Enforcement of Code

Compliance with this Code depends primarily upon understanding and voluntary compliance, secondarily upon reinforcement and reminder by peers, and, when necessary, upon enforcement through disciplinary action.

Any person about whom a complaint has been made in writing under these rules will automatically be suspended until an investigation and assessment can be organized.

Assessments will be organized as soon as is practical and offenders are expected to be present if called upon to do so. In certain cases and if need arises a teleconference may be organised due to geographical or personal reasons as agreed.

A decision will be made within 14 days of the final interview and will be binding

A strict code of conduct applies to all members of GTA and their will be a zero tolerance applied to individuals found guilty of breaching the code

Any offenders found guilty of a breach of conduct will be automatically excluded as a GTA member and any prior recognition in any archives will be deleted .Offenders will not be included in any further Groom Team Australia activities and will be ordered to cease advertising and promoting any involvement with the organisation. Any Groom Team Australia material, including logos, references, links, transcripts of interviews, photos, media of any kind, is also to be removed from the participant’s websites advertising and any other promotional material etc

Complaint Procedure .

Any individual who believes that a member or representative of Groom Team Australia has failed to meet his or her obligations under this Code is encouraged to first address that concern directly to that member. If that action does not result in a satisfactory resolution, the individual may file a written complaint with the Directors, Program Director or other appropriate staff member of Groom Team Australia That complaint must be signed and dated by all complainants and must state specifically the nature of the alleged misconduct. Upon review of the complaint and, where appropriate, additional discussions with the complainant and/or member who is the subject of the complaint, the Directors may:

1. Determine that the complaint does not merit further action,

2. Counsel the member who is the subject of the complaint and record both the complaint and the nature of the counseling in the member’s permanent record,

3. Refer the complaint, as appropriate, to the state or regional chairs/committees or affiliated organisation, or

4. Dismiss the member from the organisation

™ Groom Team Australia 2010