Client Code of Conduct

Issued by	Ethical Hire ABN 77 679 399 001
Version	1.0
Last updated	06/03/2026
Applies to	Ethical Hire public website, platform, workers, clients, participants, providers, coordinators and authorised representatives, as applicable

 

Ethical Hire is committed to supporting safe, respectful, inclusive, and person-centred services for people accessing disability and aged care supports.

We believe every Participant has the right to exercise choice and control, make decisions about their own life, and receive supports that promote independence, dignity, wellbeing, and community participation.

This Client Code of Conduct outlines the standards of behaviour expected of Clients, Participants, authorised representatives, nominees, guardians, plan managers, advocates, family members, and any person acting on behalf of a Participant when using the Ethical Hire Platform.

The Code supports positive and professional relationships between Participants and Workers and helps ensure supports are delivered safely, respectfully, and in accordance with applicable Australian laws, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, the NDIS Code of Conduct, the Aged Care Act, relevant Work Health and Safety legislation, and Ethical Hire’s Terms and Conditions.

Failure to comply with this Code may result in review of your access to the Platform and, where appropriate, further action being taken by Ethical Hire.

Participant Rights

Ethical Hire recognises and supports the rights of Participants to:

• Be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
• Exercise choice and control over their supports and services.
• Make decisions about matters that affect their lives.
• Receive supports that are safe, person-centred, and responsive to their needs.
• Be free from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct.
• Have their privacy and confidentiality respected.
• Access information in a way they can understand.
• Raise concerns or complaints without fear of disadvantage.
• Take reasonable risks that support independence, learning, and personal growth.

The Code

The following principles guide behaviour and interactions across the Ethical Hire Platform:

Respect

Treat all members of the Ethical Hire community with dignity, courtesy, and respect.

Professional Boundaries

Maintain appropriate professional relationships that support safe and effective service delivery.

Health and Safety

Work together to create safe environments where supports can be delivered effectively.

Integrity and Responsible Use

Use the Platform honestly and in accordance with applicable funding requirements and Ethical Hire policies.

Feedback, Complaints and Reporting

Raise concerns promptly and support continuous improvement in service quality and safety.

Compliance and Accountability

Meet responsibilities under applicable laws, regulations, and platform requirements.

1. Respect

All members of the Ethical Hire community deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Participants, representatives, Workers, and Ethical Hire personnel should communicate respectfully and professionally at all times.

Ethical Hire does not tolerate:

• Bullying.
• Harassment.
• Discrimination.
• Intimidation.
• Threatening behaviour.
• Verbal, physical, or emotional abuse.
• Sexual harassment or misconduct.

Diversity and inclusion are valued within the Ethical Hire community. Respect should be shown regardless of:

• Age.
• Disability.
• Race or ethnicity.
• Religion or belief.
• Sexual orientation.
• Gender identity.
• Cultural background.
• Language.
• Personal circumstances.

Ethical Hire is committed to culturally safe and inclusive practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

2. Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries help maintain safe, respectful, and effective working relationships.

Participants and Workers should work together to maintain appropriate boundaries and ensure supports remain focused on the Participant’s goals and needs.

Clients and Participants must not:

• Engage in behaviour that makes a Worker feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
• Inappropriately touch or physically interact with a Worker.
• Engage in romantic or sexual relationships with Workers where a professional support relationship exists.
• Expose Workers to offensive, threatening, or explicit material.
• Steal from, exploit, or financially abuse Workers.
• Pressure Workers to perform duties outside their skills, qualifications, or agreed support arrangements.

3. Health and Safety

Participants and Workers share responsibility for promoting a safe environment where supports can be delivered effectively.

Participants should:

Provide Accurate Information

Provide accurate and relevant information about support needs, health conditions, mobility requirements, communication preferences, and any other information reasonably required for safe service delivery.

Identify Risks

Inform Workers of any known hazards or risks that may affect their safety, including:

• Aggressive behaviours.
• Environmental hazards.
• Access issues.
• Unsafe equipment.
• Unrestrained animals.
• Other safety concerns within the service environment.

Support Safe Service Delivery

Respect Workers’ professional judgement and do not request services that fall outside their qualifications, skills, experience, or legal scope of practice.

Restrictive Practices (NDIS)

Where a Participant is subject to a Behaviour Support Plan that includes regulated restrictive practices, all restrictive practices must be authorised and implemented in accordance with applicable NDIS legislation and guidance issued by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Participants, representatives, and Workers must not request, authorise, implement, or support unauthorised restrictive practices.

Any concerns regarding restrictive practices should be reported to Ethical Hire and, where appropriate, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Safety and Risk Management

Participants should disclose information that may reasonably affect the safety and wellbeing of Workers delivering supports.

This includes known risks involving:

• Violence.
• Aggressive behaviour.
• Threatening conduct.
• Unsafe living conditions.
• Other circumstances requiring additional safeguards.

Ethical Hire may take reasonable steps to manage identified risks and ensure the safety of all parties.

4. Integrity and Responsible Use

Participants are expected to act honestly, fairly, and in good faith when using the Ethical Hire Platform.

Participants must:

• Provide accurate information.
• Use the Platform for lawful purposes.
• Communicate honestly with Workers and Ethical Hire.
• Follow booking, scheduling, and payment requirements.
• Use government funding only for approved support purposes.

Participants must not:

• Engage in fraud or dishonest conduct.
• Submit false claims.
• Misrepresent supports received.
• Knowingly misuse NDIS or aged care funding.
• Attempt to circumvent Platform processes.

5. Feedback, Complaints and Reporting

Ethical Hire encourages Participants, Workers, and representatives to raise concerns as early as possible.

Feedback and complaints help improve service quality, participant outcomes, and community safety.

Participants have the right to:

• Make a complaint.
• Provide feedback.
• Request assistance with making a complaint.
• Escalate concerns to external authorities.

Complaints will be handled fairly, respectfully, confidentially, and without victimisation.

Making a complaint in good faith will not affect a Participant’s ability to access supports through Ethical Hire.

 

Participants may also contact:

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

For complaints about disability supports and services.

Phone: 1800 035 544

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

For complaints about aged care services.

Phone: 1800 951 822

AHPRA

For concerns regarding the conduct of registered health practitioners.

 

6. Compliance and Accountability

Participants must comply with applicable laws, funding requirements, and Ethical Hire policies.

Participants are responsible for ensuring:

• Information provided is accurate.
• Funding is used appropriately.
• Support arrangements comply with applicable requirements.
• Platform accounts are kept secure.
• Personal information is protected.

Any suspected fraud, abuse, exploitation, misuse of funding, or serious misconduct may be investigated and referred to relevant authorities where appropriate.

Person-Centred Supports

Ethical Hire promotes person-centred support that reflects each Participant’s goals, preferences, strengths, cultural needs, and individual circumstances.

Participants and Workers should work together to:

• Promote independence and choice.
• Support community participation and inclusion.
• Build capacity and confidence.
• Respect individual preferences and decisions.
• Achieve meaningful outcomes identified by the Participant.

External Standards We Uphold

Ethical Hire aligns its Platform requirements with:

• NDIS Code of Conduct
• NDIS Practice Standards
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements
• Aged Care Code of Conduct
• Aged Care Quality Standards
• Relevant Commonwealth, State, and Territory legislation

This document is subject to review and update from time to time. Continued use of the Ethical Hire Platform constitutes acceptance of this Code of Conduct.