Members of the Association must adhere to the Code of Conduct.
- A member shall, in undertaking their professional work conduct themselves in a manner which:
- a. respects the humanity and promotes the wellbeing of all parties involved in assisted and third-party reproduction.
- b. promotes the best interests and wellbeing of children and people including those that may be born through assisted and third-party reproduction.
- c. minimises harm to the parties including persons born through assisted and third-party reproduction.
- d. recognises and respects the autonomy, decision-making and self-determination of people seeking to grow their families, or assist others to grow theirs, through assisted and third-party reproduction.
- e. recognises the diversity and complexity of experiences, cultural heritage, relationships, needs, concerns and interests of all relevant parties in assisted and third-party reproduction arrangements.
- f. provides services that are inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory, transparent and respectful of human dignity and the human rights of people accessing services.
- g. respects the skill, knowledge, expertise of other practitioners and engages in collegiate, respectful and non-adversarial professional communication at all times.
- Members shall:
- a. act honestly, transparently and responsibly in all professional dealings.
- b. uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethics and professionalism
- c. conduct their professional practice in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations, professional standards and regulatory requirements in the jurisdiction(s) in which they practice.
- d. provide services only within the scope of their education, qualifications, competence and professional registration or accreditation, maintaining appropriate professional indemnity or liability insurance as required.
- e. maintain their professional competence through continuing professional development and undertake only those activities for which they are appropriately qualified and experienced, seeking supervision, consultation or referral where appropriate.
- f. ensure that professional advice, education and services are informed by the best available evidence, recognised professional standards and current clinical or professional guidelines.
- g. exercise independent professional judgement that is free from undue commercial, financial or organisational influence and place the interests of clients, patients, intended parents, surrogates, donors and persons born from ART ahead of personal or commercial interests.
- h. identify, disclose and appropriately manage actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest and not permit sponsorships, referral arrangements, commercial relationships or financial incentives to influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, their professional judgement.
- i. treat all colleagues, clients and stakeholders with respect, courtesy and dignity.
- j. act collaboratively and foster a respectful, supportive professional environment.
- k. actively promote and uphold the values, mission and ethical standards of the Association.
- l. engage in professional work in a manner which reflects the purpose and ethos of the Association.
- m. communicate openly, respectfully and constructively, seeking consensus and understanding..
- Members shall not:
- a. engage in conduct which brings the Association or the professions into disrepute.
- b. act as an intermediary, broker or facilitator in relation to matching services, international brokerage services, or arrangements involving the procurement or matching of gamete donors, embryos or surrogates outside recognised legislative, regulatory or professional frameworks.
- c. use their membership of the Association to promote or facilitate commercial arrangements or services that fall outside accepted legal or ethical standards.
- d. promote, endorse or facilitate international reproductive services that operate outside applicable Australian or New Zealand legal, regulatory or recognised ethical frameworks, or where participation would reasonably be perceived as endorsing commercial brokerage or procurement arrangements.
- e. participate in, endorse, sponsor or speak at events or commercial activities where:
- i. the primary purpose is to promote services or business models that operate outside Australian or New Zealand legal, regulatory or recognised professional frameworks;
- ii. there is a significant or unmanaged conflict of interest; or
- iii. participation could reasonably be perceived as endorsing unlawful, unethical or commercially driven practices that are inconsistent with the Association’s purpose and values.
The Association’s full Policies and Code of Conduct is available for members and applicants for membership.