Code of Ethics #
This Code is a public statement of the principles, values and behaviour expected of those who are accredited by the Soil Science Australia. Breaches of the Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct can lead to disciplinary action and potentially to suspension or termination of accreditation and membership.
1. Compliance with Standards: Those accredited shall always observe the requirements of the Code of Ethics.
2. Professional Duty: It is the duty of those accredited to render service to their clients and employers with fidelity, to practise their vocation with integrity, honour and professionalism; to act impartially and objectively when providing independent advice, and to respect the public interest.
3. Competence: Those accredited shall not accept instructions or undertake work in a matter where, based on a reasonable objective standard, the Member does not have the competence, skill and/or experience to complete the assignment to the acceptable professional standard in accordance with this Code of Ethics, unless the assignment is completed in conjunction with a qualified and suitably experienced practitioner.
4. Conflict of Interest: Those accredited shall consider and identify any actual or potential conflict of interest when carrying out their professional duties and shall not act in a matter where such conflict or potential conflict has been identified by the Member or any other interested party unless all interested parties have been made aware of the situation and have consented to the Member continuing in the task.
5. Confidentiality: Those accredited must observe the requirements of confidentiality in their dealings with clients and the public.
6. The Profession: Those accredited shall at all times conduct business in a manner befitting their profession and in accordance with reasonable public expectations of professional persons.
Rules of Conduct #
The Rules of Conduct are an interpretation and expansion of the Code of Ethics of the Australian Society of Soil Science Inc. These Rules are mandatory for all those accredited.
Rule 1: Professional and Personal Conduct
1.1 Those accredited shall conduct their professional duties and activities in a manner that reflects credit upon themselves and their profession. High standards of competence, honesty, loyalty, integrity and fairness shall be observed at all times
1.2 Those accredited are bound by and agree to abide by all Soil Science Australia rules, which include the Code of Ethics, Rules of Conduct, Constitution, By-Laws, Practice Standards and compliance with Ongoing Professional Development (OPD)
1.3 Those accredited shall not accept an assignment or undertake work that is contingent upon or influenced by any condition or requirement for a predetermined result where the exercise of objective judgment is required. Members shall maintain the strictest independence and impartiality in undertaking their professional duties. To this end, they shall not:
(a) adopt the role of advocate in a case where their duty is to exercise independence and impartiality
(b) allow the performance of their professional duties to be improperly influenced by the needs or preferences of a client or other party
(c) rely upon critical information supplied by a client without appropriate verification or confirmation from other sources, unless that information is clearly identified in any report arising from that assignment
(d) act in any other way inconsistent with the duties of independence and impartiality.
1.4 Those accredited shall not provide any advice or make any statement without reasonable foundation unless it is appropriately qualified or limited
1.5 Those accredited shall not claim or present professional qualifications which may be subject to erroneous interpretations or which they do not possess
1.6 Those accredited shall not accept instructions or undertake work beyond their competence, however, assignments may be undertaken in conjunction with a person having the required competence after disclosure to the client
1.7 Those accredited shall not reproduce any work or reference prepared and presented by any other Member, person, body or authority which creates the impression that it is their own
1.8 Those accredited shall be fair and honest in any public criticism of Soil Science Australia
1.9 Those accredited shall include in reports references to any relevant assumptions, conditions, requirements and limitations arising from their instructions or inquiries, or imposed from any other source
1.10 Those accredited shall retain scientific notes where appropriate to substantiate publication of research results. With respect to other reports or publications, they shall retain for as long as legally required, adequate file notes which substantiate their opinions reached by way of inquiry, objective comparison, deduction and calculation
1.11 Where information critical to work being undertaken is derived from external sources, it must be clearly identified in any related report or advice and appropriately acknowledged
1.12 Those accredited shall accept full responsibility for conclusions presented in their reports. Where the report relies on professional opinion from outside experts, the degree of reliance must be indicated
1.13 Co-signatories to reports shall indicate the extent of their involvement or the capacity in which they are signing
1.14 Those accredited will fully cooperate with any request for information or directive from the Soil Science Australia where a complaint has been lodged or where there is deemed to be a prima facie breach of the Rules of Conduct
1.15 Those accredited shall not maliciously or carelessly do anything to injure, directly or indirectly, the reputation, prospects or business of others
1.16 Fees may be negotiated with a client on any agreed basis that does not infringe on any statute, rule of conduct or regulation
1.17 Those accredited shall not pay by commission, allowance or other benefit any person who may introduce clients to them without appropriate disclosure
1.18 Those accredited shall not accept payment or favours from another party, which may affect their relationship with a client
1.19 Instructions or work contracts accepted by those accredited should preferably be in writing and/or be confirmed in writing in sufficient detail to avoid any misinterpretation. Any variations or extensions of the original instructions should similarly be confirmed in writing
1.20 Those accredited who are convicted of an offence involving dishonesty are in breach of these Rules of Conduct and may face disciplinary action and possible termination and suspension of accreditation and membership
Rule 2: Conflict of Interest
Those accredited shall not accept or carry out any work where there may be or may reasonably be construed to be a conflict of interest. They shall withdraw from any work if a conflict of interest arises or becomes known after the work has been accepted. An exception to this rule is where the conflict of interest is disclosed to and accepted by the party or parties
2.2 Where a conflict of interest arises those accredited shall promptly disclose the relevant facts to the client and where appropriate
(a) advise the client to obtain independent professional advice
(b) inform the client that the firm or organisation can act or continue to act for the client unless the appointment or instruction is confirmed in writing acknowledging the actual or potential conflict of interest
(c) disclose the matter in any relevant document or report.
2.3 Where a conflict arises or could arise between the interests of different clients those accredited shall promptly disclose the relevant facts to the instructing client and where appropriate:
(a) advise the client to obtain independent professional advice
(b) inform the client that they cannot act or continue to act for the client unless the appointment or instruction is confirmed in writing acknowledging the actual or potential conflict of interest
(c) disclose the matter in any relevant document or report
Rule 3: Client Relationships
3.1 Those accredited shall not disclose to any other person or party any confidential information provided directly or indirectly by a client or to a client without the permission of the client except where there is a legal requirement for disclosure, or the information is of public or common knowledge
3.2 Those accredited shall conduct themselves in a manner and demeanour, which is neither detrimental to their profession nor likely to lessen the confidence of clients or the public in Soil Science Australia or the soil science profession
3.3 Those accredited shall act promptly and efficiently in carrying out work for which they have been engaged. They shall, in the case of unavoidable delay, communicate to the client the progress being made in respect of the instructions issued
3.4 Consistent with the duty to preserve the confidentiality of a client’s affairs, those accredited shall not accept a retainer to act for another person in any action or proceedings against, or in conflict with, the interests of the client
Rule 4: Advertising
4.1 Any advertisement must not reflect adversely on the professional integrity of Soil Science Australia
4.2 Those accredited shall not include exaggerated or false claims in any advertisement
Rule 5: Reference Soil Science Australia
Those accredited shall
(a) purport to represent the views of Soil Science Australia unless expressly authorised to do so
(b) publicise Soil Science Australia using terminology which has not either already appeared in an advertisement published by Soil Science Australia or received the approval of Soil Science Australia
Rule 6: Inducements for the Introduction of Clients
6.1 Those accredited shall not invite instructions for work except in accordance with these Rules.
6.2 Those accredited shall not directly or indirectly exert undue pressure or influence on any persons, whether by the offer or provision of any payment, gift or favour or otherwise, for the purpose of securing instructions for work, or accept instructions from any person where there is reason to believe that undue pressure or influence may have been exerted by a third party in expectation of receiving a reward for the introduction
Rule 7: Departure Provisions
Where those accredited consider circumstances that warrant departure from or noncompliance with any rule herein, they may submit a report that includes a statement outlining the reasons for the departure or non-compliance and any impact on the content of the report