NADF Code of Conduct

This code of conduct establishes standard of behavior expected of NADF’s executive members and the advisors and is a guide to resolving ethical issues for those who work in the NADF Community. While there is no set of rules capable of providing answers to all the ethical questions, which arise, a code provides a framework for appropriate conduct in a variety of context.

2.   Personal Behavior & Attitude
Executive members should strive to perform their duties allocated by the executive committee diligently, impartially, conscientiously and in a professional manner to the best of their ability. They should:

• Treat members of the community with courtesy and sensitivity to their rights.
• Act responsibly and honestly when they become aware of unethical behavior or wrongdoing by another member which may include making a report to the executive committee.
• Ensure that, in using their discretionary powers, they take all relevant facts into consideration and have regard to the particular merits of each case.
• Treat each issue or case promptly and reasonably with a view to meeting the principles of procedural fairness and values of the organization.

3.  Conflicts of Interest
Executive members should avoid any financial or other interest or undertaking that could directly or indirectly compromise the performance of their duties and responsibilities. Any financial or other interests should be only in the benefit of the entire organization rather than of an individual.

4.   Acceptance of Gifts of Benefits
No executive member should accept a gift or benefit if it could be considered by the public, knowing the full facts, as intended or likely to give bad name to the organization or cause the executive member to do his or her job in a particular way.

5.  Public Comment and the Use of Official Information
While executive member, as a member of the community have right to make public comment and to enter into public debate or political and social issues, there may be circumstances in which they should clearly indicate that their comments are bring made in a private capacity and should NOT be attributed as official comment of the organization.

Executive members have access to the NADF’s official documents and information; they need to maintain confidentiality and privacy of that information in order to protect individuals concerned and to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation of the organization. In general executive members should only disclose official information when required to do so by law, when the need arises as part of their normal duties, where they are called upon to give evidence in court or where the information has been officially approved for release.

6.   Use of Official facilities and Equipment
Executive members are expected to use the facilities of the organization efficiently, carefully and honestly. Such resources should not be used for private purposes without the express permission of designated officer of the executive committee.

7.  Engagement with other organization
Considering the confidentiality and privacy of the organization all the executive members are required to inform the executive committee about their involvement with any other similar Nepalese organizations in Australia. In cases where the executive member has already been a member of such organizations he/she must inform the executive committee within three months.

None of the office holders (i.e. president, vice president, general secretary, secretary, cultural secretary and treasurer) of the executive committee are allowed to become an executive member of any other similar Nepalese organizations in Australia. The office holder will have to resign from his/her current position in such circumstances.

8.  Attendance and Punctuality
It is very important that all the executive members realize the importance of being punctual on all the meetings and functions organized by the organization.

In circumstances where the executive members are running late or cannot attend a meeting or a function they are required to notify either general secretary or the secretary well in advance. If an executive member is not present in regular meetings without notifying the designated officers for three consecutive times he/she will be automatically expelled from the executive committee and will be notified. Such executive member would then remain as an ordinary member.

9.  Conclusion
This code of conduct is a set of guidelines on ethical behavior for all the executive members and the advisors of Nepalese Australian Democratic Forum. Breaches of some aspects of this code may be raised in the meeting and result in disciplinary action against the member. Also, please note that this code of conduct may be changed or modified if need be by the executive committee at any time.