Terms of service

Code of Conduct – Policy & Agreement

 

  1. Scope & Purpose

This document summarises the behaviour standards expected of all parties, teaching, learning, providing for or receiving services from Extra Specialists Training Pty Ltd (hereafter EST), at the Screen Queensland Studios ‘Studio B’ facility. This policy aims to secure agreement that all parties understand how to conduct themselves in a manner that EST considers professionally appropriate, respectful and ethical toward all other students, customers, staff and guests of EST, as well as all staff, visitors and guests present at the site of Screen Queensland Studios. The Screen Queensland Studios site is a high-profile commercial site used for the filming of large-scale screen productions in Brisbane. As such the behaviour of all EST attendees within the Screen Queensland Studios site, must adhere to these expectations.

 

  1. Goals

EST aims to offer a harmonious service environment in which each member respects the beliefs, feelings, person and property of others without condition. Students, clients, service providers and staff of EST have a right to work and study in an environment free from:

  • Harassment of any kind
  • Discrimination of any kind
  • Threatening or bullying behaviour of any kind
  • Unapproved solicitation of any kind

 

  1. Implementation

The Education Manager (EM) is managerially responsible for monitoring behavioural standards with the aid of individual EST Instructors, administration staff and EST Support personnel. The EM is permitted to take any legal action required to ensure that others can enjoy training and services at the EST site and attendance to the Screen Queensland Studios site, in an unencumbered learning and business environment. By enrolling in an EST workshop, course or to provide services on behalf of EST, all parties, prior to start of work, must sign to agree to adhere to the EST ‘Code of Conduct’ Policy. Signature may be provided digitally or as a hard copy for evidence of compliance in this regard. Work cannot begin until a Code of Conduct form is signed prior to the start of each new undertaking.  

 

  1. Procedure

Students attending the EST Training facility are encouraged to strive for excellence and to achieve their goals. Students, staff and service providers are expected to behave in a polite and considerate manner and to respect others.

All parties are invited to contribute to the improvement of the Code of Conduct by contacting Student Administration and providing recommendations or completing a feedback form or a complaints form.

The responsibilities and unacceptable behaviour listed in this Code of Conduct are intended for behaviours outside of performance classes. For example, in a performance context under supervision, some of these behaviours may be considered acceptable.

 

Responsibilities and Expectations

All parties are expected to:

  • Respect the rights of others;
  • Respect the privacy of others;
  • Respect other people’s rights to hold different positions and views;
  • Respect other people’s beliefs, nationality, religion, age, associations and gender;
  • Treat all people in a fair and non-discriminatory way;
  • Be honest, but professional and act with integrity;
  • Not use offensive language or aggressive behaviour;
  • Maintain an environment suitable for study and work free of interruption;
  • Act with care and diligence on campus and at work-based training organisations;
  • Not cheat or plagiarise;
  • Maintain satisfactory academic/professional progress;
  • Maintain satisfactory class/session attendance in line with stated requirements;
  • Provide accurate and timely notification of information required by EST to make appropriate decisions about their continuing enrolment or engagement at the EST;
  • Maintain payment of course fees and any other due fees;
  • Respect and use resources of the EST and Screen Queensland in a considerate manner;
  • Respect that the site is a smoke free, alcohol free, and drug free environment;
  • Uphold the reputation of EST and Screen Queensland at all times;
  • Comply with EST policies and procedures as stipulated in the Student Handbook or staff induction pack

 

Unacceptable Behaviour

Unacceptable behaviour includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Discrimination, harassment, abuse or physical assault;
  • Intimidating or threatening behaviour;
  • Making racist or sexist comments or actions;
  • Behaving in a disruptive manner such as swearing, yelling or using offensive or derogatory language including in online interactions and surveys, even in personal platforms in regard to the work, staff, clients, partners or students of EST;
  • Endangering the safety of yourself or others;
  • Breaching relevant State and Federal Laws, e.g. Work Health and Safety, Privacy Act
  • Selling, using, distributing or being in possession of drugs while attending classes/work experience/work, or under the influence of drugs;
  • Wilful damage to or theft of EST or Screen Queensland property;
  • Accessing, storing, processing or transmitting any information deemed to be threatening, obscene, pornographic or harassing in nature.
  • Breaching intellectual property (IP) policies and agreements
  • Breaching MOU and contractual agreements
  • Providing misleading, inaccurate or insufficient information regarding a situation, service or booking
  • Performing activities or creating an impression that would potentially damage the reputation of EST or Screen Queensland

 

Gross Misconduct – Staff and Students

EST identifies certain examples of behaviour as constituting a breach of ‘Gross Misconduct’ in relation to interactions between persons studying, working or visiting on site. All EST staffers and partners whether educational or otherwise agree, and all enrolling student agrees, by signing a Code of Practice Agreement that they understand the guidelines of what constitutes an incidence of Gross Misconduct as set out below. They likewise agree that if gross misconduct has been substantiated that they must cease work or study immediately and remove themselves, without protest or disruption from the premises.

 

In any such Gross Misconduct cases, all subsequent enquiries (after an initial interview with the primary party/ies concerned) may be conducted with the affected parties remotely or off-site if necessary, for the safety of all, until the issue is completely resolved one way or another. This includes all appeal and mediation processes pertaining to the same.

 

Examples of Gross Misconduct may fall under (but are not restricted to only) the following categories. It will be up to the EST Managing Director and an appointed panel to determine if a breach of Gross Misconduct has occurred, where it does not fall specifically under any heading listed below: 

  • threatening/bullying of any kind on or off site either - physical/verbal/cyber (inc. texting) between any parties
  • discriminatory behaviour of any kind on or off campus either - physical/verbal/cyber (inc. texting) between any parties
  • sexually harassing behaviour of any kind on or off campus either - physical/verbal/cyber (inc. texting) between ant parties
  • theft of any kind
  • intoxication of any kind (alcohol, drug induced or otherwise). This applied to any sites utilized by EST in the course of all its commercial delivery and assessment activities ie. live theatre venues, recording facilities, identified off campus sites for filming student or EST projects, graduations etc and the like
  • on site selling or solicitation of sales of any illegal substances or products
  • on site selling of any legal substances or products without prior permission in writing by the Managing Director
  • public or publicized interactions/declarations of a defaming nature (verbal, texted, web sourced) on or off campus, offered in the presence (cyber or otherwise) of other students, staffers or members of the general public, that are generated by a student or staffer/provider that relate to their opinions or grievances toward other students, staffers, providers or any EST protocols, practices, methods or systems of operation.
  • solicitation for any kind of paid or unpaid work on or off campus either - verbal, texted, web sourced from any party to a student being fully and permanently withdrawn or graduated whether the work is related to performing arts or not. Any student or staffer/provider who enters study or engagement at EST knowingly in an existing working relationship of this nature with any student or staffer/provider - who does not declare this conflict prior to entry or employment - is likewise deemed to be in breach of the gross misconduct guidelines.
  • social relationships or solicitations of any kind between any teaching/service provision members/partners or administration staff and students is prohibited. If a student is not ‘permanently’ withdrawn from EST or completely graduated, social interactions on or off campus between students and staffers/providers are strictly prohibited – including any kind of cyber or phone (call, texting, email or otherwise) relationship. In the event of accidental social contact at an external function all staffers are expected to ensure all contact during the function is kept at arm’s length and that the contact desists completely at the functions end. It is in the same manner gross misconduct for any staffer/provider to seek or receive the private contact details of any current student without the prior written permission of the Managing Director and in the event of such permission being temporarily given for the sake of collaboration for any identified assessable project etc, such contact details shall be immediately erased from the phone and/or computer memory of the staffer and cannot be used by them to contact the student again unless permission is again sought separately.
  • any conduct that would generate disrepute toward any EST staffer, provider, student or guest or the institution in the greater professional sense.
  • unreported observances of gross misconduct of any kind -constitute gross misconduct on behalf of the party who fails to report the same.

 

  1. Breaches of the Code of Conduct

All EST staff, providers and students are responsible for monitoring behaviour and reporting any potential breaches.

5.1 Reporting Breaches

EST staff, providers and students are responsible for maintaining a harmonious learning and working environment. Therefore, all are encouraged to report any undue pressure, disturbance, or harassment by any member of staff, service provider or by any other student.  Any potential breaches of this Code of Conduct should be reported to Student Administration or a staff member immediately.

Reports of breaches can be submitted in writing or verbally clearly outlining the details to Student Administration, Trainer, EM or Managing Director.

As a student, if you are uncertain about your rights and responsibilities, please contact the Student Support Office for clarification. Your rights as a student will always be respected and you are in turn, expected to respect the rights of others. EST will not tolerate any retribution against persons who reports potential breaches of this policy.

5.2 Disciplinary Procedures

EST treats all breaches of the Code of Conduct seriously. Breaches will be processed as soon as possible and involved parties will be informed in writing. Breaches are dealt with by a Committee that will be formed by the Managing Director to deal with the breach The Committee includes the Managing Director, Student Administration, and where deemed necessary, relevant students and staff.

The repercussion options for breaches are as follows:

  • Written Warning
  • Suspension from Class/service provision
  • Request for apology
  • Counselling
  • Monitoring
  • Mediation
  • Removal from class/service with supervision from another EST staff member
  • Cancellation of enrolment

Where the breach is perceived as being an immediate risk to the wellbeing of students, staff or the general public, the EST will report the breach to relevant authorities, including the Police.

The Committee will make a decision on whether disciplinary action should be taken based on evidence and any documented compassionate or compelling circumstances. This could include cancellation of enrolment or contract.

 

Cancellation of Enrolment

In cases where the EST intends to cancel a student’s enrolment or a provider/partner contract because of a breach of the Code of Conduct, that person(s) will be notified in writing.   

 

Appeals Process

If parties are not satisfied with the outcome of any EST decision, they may lodge an appeal using the Complaints form on the website or obtain one from administration.

 

  1. Definitions

Illegal drug:

The possession, use or distribution of a plant, drug or substance, which is unlawful, or for which the student does not have a prescription.

Offensive:

Means conduct or language that any reasonable person would regard as offensive in the circumstances and includes, conduct or language directed at any person that a reasonable person would consider insulting or humiliating.

 

  1. Related Documents

The following policies and procedures may relate to this policy:

  • Assessment, Moderation and Progress Policy
  • Academic Honesty and Misconduct Policy
  • Student Grievance Policy
  • Partnership MOU/contracts
  • Hire agreements
  • Screen Queensland Operations Manual

 

  1. Review

Three years from commencement.

 

  1. Accountabilities

The MD is responsible for review and approval of this policy.

 

EST is responsible for distribution of this policy to students, staff and providers via the website and other publications.