2022-23 ACFID Code of Conduct Review

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Mary MacKillop Today’s Mobile Kindy, with partner Child Benefit Fiji, enables children living in informal settlements to access vital early education. Photo: Mary MacKillop Today.

The ACFID Code of Conduct is periodically reviewed to ensure it continues to reflect good practice and the needs of ACFID and its members. Our sector and the work we do is constantly evolving and the aim of this review is to make sure the Code and associated Quality Assurance Framework remains relevant, coherent, useful and credible to members and external stakeholders.

Beginning July 2022, the Review will consider and revise, if required, the Quality Principles and Commitments in the ACFID Code of Conduct and the Compliance Indicators and Verifiers in the Quality Assurance Framework.

Key questions the Review will ask:

Are there gaps in the Code which have emerged since the last review of the Code?
Are there opportunities for greater alignment with other international and domestic standards and regulations?

Are there opportunities to remove redundancy and overlap within the Code itself?
Are there areas of the Code which no longer reflect good practice, or require further clarification?
Is compliance manageable for members and ACFID?

The Review will be guided by the following overarching principles:

Changes to the Code of Conduct or Quality Assurance Framework will be undertaken on the grounds of necessity not convenience, keeping in mind the impact of changes on members’ compliance requirements;

The overall architecture and structure of the Code and Quality Assurance Framework shall be maintained; and
The triennial compliance assessment and reporting cycle shall be maintained

Read the full Terms of Reference.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The Review is scheduled to finish in November 2023.

What’s next?

September 2023 Update

A briefing for CEOs and Board members on the amendments to the Code and Quality Assurance Framework was held on 11 September. A recording of this session can be viewed below.

August 2023 Update

We have reached the decision stage of the Review.
The proposed changes have been approved by the Code of Conduct Committee and the ACFID Board.
The revised Code of Conduct and Quality Assurance Framework were shared with all ACFID member CEOs on 18 August.
The amended Code of Conduct will be presented to ACFID Council for approval at ACFID’s AGM on 18 October as part of the 2023 ACFID Conference.

Get involved

July 2023 Update: Revised changes to Code of Conduct and Quality Assurance Framework

Thank you to everyone who has contributed their thoughts and ideas to the review of the ACFID Code.

Guided by the recommendations and feedback received so far, the proposed changes to the Code and Quality Assurance Framework have been revised since May.

JULY 2023 – Summary of revisions to proposed changes to the Code and Quality Assurance Framework

JULY 2023 – Code of Conduct, with proposed changes marked as tracked changes

JULY 2023 – Quality Assurance Framework, ‘clean’ copy

JULY 2023 – Quality Assurance Framework, with proposed changes marked as tracked changes

The feedback period for these versions is now closed.

Online Survey

The online feedback form is now closed.

Workshops

Thank you everyone who joined us at workshops in March and May to review and provide input on draft changes to the Code and Quality Assurance Framework. There are no further workshops scheduled at this time. Additional feedback will be sought through ACFID’s Communities of Practice.

Participate in Communities of Practice

The following groups will be assisting ACFID with developing some of the draft changes to the Code.

Climate Policy and Practice Community
Localisation Framework working group
Racial Justice Community of Practice
ANCP Community of Practice
Human Resources Community of Practice
Safeguarding Community of Practice
Finance Community of Practice

Please contact [email protected] if you wish to join a Community of Practice.

Key Documents

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions about the Code Review.

Discussion Paper – August 2022

ACFID released a Discussion Paper outlining key questions to guide the first phase of consultations with ACFID members and stakeholders. Responses were invited from ACFID members, staff, board members, volunteers, partners, and other interested stakeholders.

Consultation Phase: Summary of recommendations – December 2022

This report summarises feedback and propositions from the Consultation Phase of the ACFID Code Review 2022-23. Based on feedback received, the report outlines seven recommendations to guide the next steps in designing and drafting changes to the ACFID Code and Quality Assurance Framework.

Proposed changes – March 2023

This paper summarises the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct based on the (above) summary of recommendations, as of March 2023. These changes focus on the thematic areas of cliamte change, locally-led action and anti-racism, racial justice and diversity.

Proposed changes – May 2023

This paper summarises the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct based on the (above) summary of recommendations, as of May 2023. It includes revised changes related to the thematic areas of climate change, locally-led action and anti-racism, racial justice and diversity, as well as new changes that aim to improve alignment with other standards, and the overall clarity and coherence of the Code.

Revised changes – July 2023

This paper summarises the revisions to the proposed changes based on the feedback received during consultations in May-June 2023.