Relevant Persons
Relevant Persons comprise the Board of Directors, employees (including contracted employees), consultants and volunteers of the College
- MST operates with regard to the interests of all stakeholders.
- The College is committed to the provision of a high standard of service to prospective, current, and graduated students and employees.
- The College's Christian ethos is reflected in its workplace. It is committed to employment and work practices which are non-discriminatory in terms of race, ethnicity or gender, and to ongoing training and professional development, retention of employees, and the provision of a safe working environment.
This Code of Conduct Policy has been prepared to promote fair, ethical and responsible behaviour and decision-making, and to guide the MST Directors and employees (including contracted employees), consultants and volunteers of the College as to the practice necessary to maintain confidence in the College’s integrity. The Policy also provides guidance as to the responsibility and accountability of individuals for reporting and investigating reports of unethical practice.
- The MST Board
- All employees (including volunteers)
- The provision of services, programs, activities within the College premises.
- Interactions with service providers, suppliers and members of the public in the course of undertaking duties.
- The workplace, which extends beyond the venue’s physical boundaries and set times of work, and includes after-hours work, staff meetings, external campuses, Outbound locations, camps, conferences, functions and approved activities.
College Conduct and Responsibility
MST undertakes to deal fairly with its staff and students and to address complaints using approved dispute resolution procedures. The College strives to protect the health and welfare of its people by providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment and which enables both employees and students to balance their College life with their family responsibilities and outside activities. The Board and employees of the College shall protect the privacy of members, employees and students, and confidential information, except where disclosure is required by law. Relevant Persons are required to execute their duties at all times with regard to the mission of the College and interests of all stakeholders of the College. Relevant Persons are required to meet all legal and other obligations to other legitimate stakeholders of the College, regulatory bodies, creditors, suppliers and associations of which the College is a member.
The Relevant Persons, in carrying out their role in the College, are expected to …
- act ethically and in good faith, and with honesty, integrity, transparency and impartiality;
- act with diligence and responsiveness and treating others with fairness, respect and courtesy and without discrimination or harassment or engagement in misleading or deceptive conduct;
- foster and protect the reputation of the College;
- take reasonable steps to ensure adequate protection of all confidential information;
- carry out duties as well as possible within any delegated authority;
- constantly enhance their professional knowledge;
- be accountable for all actions and decisions, and providing documentation and sound reasons for them;
- not act in a manner that inhibits another person from fulfilling the requirements of their position;
- use College resources properly and in accordance with occupational health and safety obligations; and,
- protect of those who report violations or fraud or corrupt conduct in good faith.
Relevant Persons shall not compromise the College’s integrity and control in any dealings by an actual or perceived conflict of interest.
Relevant Persons shall neither solicit nor accept gifts or benefits that may appear to influence any aspect of their work.
Directors and Executive Officers
An MST Director should act honestly, in good faith, for a proper purpose and in the best interests of the College as a whole, and should not engage in conduct that is likely to bring discredit upon the College.
- A Director has a duty to perform the functions of office and exercise the powers attached to that office with a degree of care and diligence that a reasonable person would exercise if they were a Director in the same circumstances.
- A Director should recognize that his/her primary responsibility is to the College as a whole (with this obligation to be observed in priority to any duty a Director may owe to those electing or appointing him or her) but should, where appropriate, have regard for the interest of all stakeholders of the College.
- A Director should not make improper use of information acquired as a Director, nor take improper advantage of the position of Director. In particular a Director should not take advantage of property, information, position, or opportunities arising from these for personal gain or gain by another person, either directly or indirectly, or to cause detriment to the College.
- A Director must protect and ensure the proper use of the College’s assets.
- A Director should properly manage any conflict with the interests of the College. Directors have an obligation to disclose to the Board any actual or perceived conflicts of interest of a direct or indirect nature which could compromise in any way the performance or reputation of the College. Directors shall comply with the Conflicts of Interest Policy of the College.
- A Director has an obligation to be independent in judgement and actions and to take all reasonable steps to be satisfied as to the soundness of all decisions taken by the Board.
- Confidential information received by the Director in the course of the exercise of Directorial duties remains the property of the College and it is improper to disclose it, or allow it to be disclosed, unless that disclosure has been authorized by the College, or the person from whom the information is provided, or is required by law. A Director will be expected to resign from the Board if he/she commits a breach of this obligation.
- A Director has an obligation, at all times, not only to comply with the spirit, as well as the letter, of the law and with the principles of this Code but also to promote compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and the provisions of this code.
- A Director has an obligation to report any instances of unlawful or unethical behaviour. The Board has an obligation to actively promote ethical behaviour and protect those who report violations in good faith.
Number of Outside Directorships
A Director should continually evaluate the number of boards on which s/he serves to ensure that s/he can give the time and attention to detail required to properly fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a member of the Board.
A Director shall table, at his/her first meeting after appointment and at the first meeting in each calendar year thereafter, a declaration of other relevant interests, including all directorships, and shall notify the Board, as soon as practicable, if taking on a subsequent new relevant interest.
College Employees
Protection from Liability
The College will indemnify its staff against liabilities incurred by them while carrying out their duties in good faith for the College. It will stand behind its employees and meet the costs of actions that might be taken against them personally as though the action had been taken against the College, provided that the employee concerned was acting in good faith.
Exercising Care and Diligence in Employment
Employees are expected to carry out their duties honestly, responsibly and impartially to the best of their ability.
For example, all employees should:
- carry out their duties in a professional, responsible and conscientious manner;
- carry out official directions and policies in a faithful, impartial and transparent manner;
- ensure decisions can be seen to be reasonable, fair and appropriate to the circumstances based on consideration of all the relevant facts and supported by adequate documentation;
- report genuinely suspected or known fraud or corrupt conduct to the Vice-Principal (Community and Operations);
- refrain from any conduct including alcohol or substance abuse or misuse, which could adversely affect personal work performance or the safety and well-being of others;
- properly protect confidential information and return any confidential information that must be taken from the College office;
- take reasonable steps to ensure the protection of intellectual property;
- maintain as appropriate the confidentiality of College dealings when interacting with outside organisations and others within the College;
- ensure that any official College information is not used, without College authorisation, in order to gain a financial or other benefit for themselves or any other person or group;
- be sensitive to the fact that if they occasionally need to use College resources, for instance to make a telephone call for private purposes, they are using College resources, and should endeavour to ensure that such use is kept to a minimum;
- give due credit to the contributions of other employees and students;
- assess any student’s documentation fairly, objectively and consistently in any particular circumstances;
- maintain adequate security over College property, facilities and resources and information;
- ensure that College resources are managed effectively, efficiently and for their specified purpose; and
- ensure that resources are used in a manner which does not harm the environment.
Health and Safety
Employees shall:
- take reasonable care for the health and safety of persons who are at their place of work and who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work; and
- co-operate so far as it is necessary to enable compliance with any requirement imposed under occupational health and safety legislation in the interests of health, safety and welfare on College employeesor any other person.
Reporting corrupt conduct, maladministration and serious and substantial waste of resources
Employees are urged to report suspicions of corrupt conduct, maladministration and serious and substantial waste of College resources. When an employee suspects corrupt conduct has occurred the employee may report the allegation in confidence to the Vice-Principal (Community and Operations). Any such allegations will be treated in strict confidence and investigated as considered appropriate. If an employee does not consider it appropriate to disclose an allegation of suspected corrupt conduct to the Vice-Principal (Community and Operations), disclosure should be made directly to the Chair of the Board of Directors.
All employees are afforded protection for reporting breaches of the Code of Conduct by the MST Whistleblower Policy.
Making fair decisions
When making a decision, taking action of a discretionary nature or resolving a grievance which may adversely affect a person's rights, liberties, interests or legitimate expectations, the principles of procedural fairness should be applied. This means that persons affected should have the opportunity to respond to allegations or assertions made and to have a decision made without bias. Decisions should be based on considerations relevant to the matter at hand. Decisions may be accepted more readily if reasons are given.
Monitoring and Compliance