Health and Disability Services Complaints Office

If you have questions or need more information, speak with a HaDSCO staff member on (08) 6551 7620 or email mail@hadsco.wa.gov.au.

What is the Code of Conduct?

The Code of Conduct for certain health care workers (Code of Conduct) sets minimum standards of practice for health care workers who are not registered under the National Registration Accreditation Scheme (NRAS), provide services unrelated to their registration, or are student or volunteer health care workers.

The Code of Conduct contains 17 clauses which set out the way in which health care workers should undertake their practice:

Clause 1: Health care workers to provide services in a safe and ethical manner.
Clause 2: Health care workers to obtain consent.
Clause 3: Appropriate conduct in relation to treatment advice.
Clause 4: Health care workers to report concerns about treatment or care provided by other health care workers.
Clause 5: Health care workers to take appropriate action in response to adverse events.
Clause 6: Health care workers to adopt standard precautions for infection control.
Clause 7: Health care workers diagnosed with infectious medical conditions.
Clause 8: Health care workers not to make claims to cure certain serious illnesses.
Clause 9: Health care workers not to misinform their clients.
Clause 10: Health care workers not to practice under the influence of alcohol or unlawful substances.
Clause 11: Health care workers with certain mental or physical impairment.
Clause 12: Health care workers not to financially exploit clients.
Clause 13: Health care workers not to engage in sexual misconduct.
Clause 14: Health care workers to comply with relevant privacy laws.
Clause 15: Health care workers to keep appropriate records.
Clause 16: Health care workers to be covered by appropriate insurance.
Clause 17: Health care workers to display code and other information.

To download the full Code of Conduct poster, click here.

To download the Easy English Code of Conduct poster, click here.

Alternatively, you can watch our Code of Conduct informational video below:

Why do we need the Code of Conduct?

While the majority of health care workers are practicing in a safe, competent and ethical manner, there are however occasions where a health care worker’s conduct or performance may be placing people at risk of serious harm.

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to protect the public by setting minimum standards of practice for certain health care workers. It also addresses a regulatory gap in relation to health care workers who are not regulated under the NRAS.

Western Australia has joined most other states that have already passed similar legislation to implement the Code of Conduct.

When does the Code of Conduct take effect?

From 27 July 2023.

The Code of Conduct does not apply retrospectively. This means that HaDSCO can only deal with Code of Conduct complaints following 27 July 2023.

Who does the Code of Conduct apply to?

The Code of Conduct applies to health care workers who:

Are not registered under the National Registration Accreditation Scheme (NRAS)*.
Provide services unrelated to their registration.
Are student or volunteer health care workers.

This can include (but is not limited to): counsellors, dieticians, doulas, kinesiologists, massage therapists, naturopaths, nutritionists, psychotherapists, reiki practitioners, social workers and speech pathologists. It may also include some other types of allied, alternative and community health service workers.

*Health care workers registered with NRAS include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, Chinese medicine practitioners, chiropractors, dental practitioners, medical radiation practitioners, medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, optometrists, osteopaths, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists.

What do health care workers have to do to comply with the Code of Conduct?

Health care workers who are not registered through NRAS are automatically covered by and must comply with the Code of Conduct. Posters displaying the Code of Conduct clauses are also available to download below:

Code of Conduct Poster (A4 PDF Easy English)

Code of Conduct Poster (A3 PDF Full Clauses)

Alternatively, you can watch our Code of Conduct informational video below:

What happens if a health care worker doesn't comply with the Code of Conduct?

The Code of Conduct does not restrict entry into practice, but allows for effective action to be taken against a health care worker who fails to comply with the proper standards as provided for in the Code. This includes the issuing of prohibition orders to cease practice or placing conditions on a health care worker’s practice where their conduct presents a serious risk to public health and safety.

What is HaDSCO's role with the Code of Conduct?

HaDSCO can take action against a health care worker who presents a serious risk to public health and safety, and fails to comply with the Code of Conduct.

This action can include:

Investigating complaints about alleged Code of Conduct breaches.
Undertaking ‘Director-initiated’ investigations into possible Code of Conduct breaches, allowing for investigations to be undertaken without a complaint being received.
Issuing an interim prohibition order (IPO) against a health care worker to allow for an investigation into their conduct to be completed.
Issuing a prohibition order (PO) against a health care worker at the end of an investigation.
Monitoring compliance with IPOs and POs and take action for breaches.
Publishing public health warning statements when there is a risk to public health and safety.