Media Release 21st November 2008 New employer group to fight for workers’ pay and conditions
Western Australia’s community sector employers have united to form Community Employers WA (CEWA) to secure a higher level of funding and ensure the sustainability of vital co ... find out more

Media Release 17th November 2008 CatholicCare Appeal for Centrecare
CatholicCare, the charitable arm of the Bunbury Diocese, will raise funds to support the work of Centrecare for troubled young people. Media Statement CatholicCare 2008 ... find out more

 Centrecare Code of Ethics

Centrecare staff are bound by the Code of Ethics of their professional associations as appropriate, and in addition, all counsellors, mediators, support and other staff together with those engaged in teaching and training of staff are required at all times to:

1.    Maintain high standards of professional conduct.

2.    Maintain and strive to improve proficiency in their professional practice.

3.    Make every effort to foster maximum self determination and responsibility on the part of clients.

4.    Provide such information as can be reasonably obtained about available services and where appropriate refer clients to them.

5.    Advise clients as needed about their qualifications, experience and preferred ways of working.

6.    Respect the confidentiality of information obtained in the course of professional service. They will not share confidences revealed by clients except in accordance with Agency policy and lawful requirements.

7.    Shall inform clients fully about the limits of confidentiality in any given situation, the purposes for which information is obtained and     how it may be used.

8.    Work conscientiously to avoid, as far as possible, imposing their own values and beliefs on clients.

9.    Not use their professional client relationship to promote personal, religious, political or business loyalties or interests and do not accept personal payment from clients.

10.  Ensure so far as possible that the services provided to clients are appropriate to need and that clients are referred either internally or externally as appropriate.

11.  Not misuse any client relationship for personal gratification.

12.  Not establish “personal” relationships with clients at any time unless the professional process has been terminated for a reasonable* period of time.

13.  Not engage, while employed at Centrecare, in work with clients or potential clients of Centrecare outside the agency unless with consent of Director.

14.  Not defame the agency or other workers. They will seek to resolve the issue through use of the Agency’s Grievance Policy.

15.  Raise any issue of concern about a colleague’s behaviour, preferably first with the colleague concerned directly, and where this isn’t appropriate or feasible seek guidance from appropriate senior staff.

*  The term reasonable is taken to mean “what a reasonable person would think”. The most appropriate way to assess this in any given situation is through discussion with a group of peers until a consensus is achieved. If the matter should be subject later to some litigation or complaint, the fact that the decision was not an arbitrary one taken by an individual but reflects the combined wisdom of several others, will help protect the individual. Obviously, it would be wise to select colleagues who are not personal friends or otherwise inclined to support the individual’s point of view without thorough reflection. Wherever uncertainty about the meaning of any ethical standards arises, is always wise to seek consultation with peers.