Code of Practice

COMMITMENTS

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Cecchetti Ballet Australia Inc. (CBA) is  committed to providing all members and clients of members  with a professional workplace which is pleasant, safe, inclusive and fulfilling.

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CBA will abide by the National Competency Standards as found in the Australian Standards for Dance Teachers Handbook, and adhere to the Australian Guidelines for Dance Teachers as found in the AusDance Handbook, including, but not limited to Dance Safe Practices and Professional business practice for dance studios, including their Code of ethics for dance teachers.

This Policy will be reviewed every two years to provide the most up to date guidelines.

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Please take the time to read and review this Policy as thoroughly as possible. If you have any questions, concerns or feedback please address them to enrico@cecchettiballet.org.

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APPLICATION OF POLICY

1. CBA values mutual respect, discipline, support, openness, accountability and behaving ethically.

2. State Secretaries and Organisers are  responsible for encouraging and sharing our values to all members. 

3. This Policy applies to all of our Members, members, and clients of members, teachers, parents, partners and students of all ages (together hereinafter "Members").

4. This Policy and all relevant official documents and procedures apply to both, physical and online practices of the Cecchetti’s Ballet method.
    

5. This Policy will cover the following:

   1. Acceptable and Unacceptable behaviour

   2. Teachers/Examiner Training

   3. Customer complaints

   4. Diversity and Equity

      1. Racism

      2. Sexual Harassment

   5. Breach

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(1) ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR
 

1. physical contact

   1. Dance is a physical art and touch is an essential component of teaching, not to mention the most efficient way of correcting posture or relieving an injury.

   2. Ask the student permission prior to touching them.

   3. If the student refuses to be touched, the teacher should look at alternative ways.

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Acceptable

​​* Assisting to develop dance skills.

*Treating an injury

*Preventing an injury

*Toileting assistance to children with disability or previous consent by the parents.

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Unacceptable

*Corporal punishment

*Massages, kisses and any form of inappropriate touching.

*Allow unnecessary close contact with interaction such as wrestling or tickling or any physical or sexually provocative games.

*Undertaking tasks of personal nature if they can do it for themselves e.g. changing clothes, feeding, grooming or toileting.

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  2. Interaction with others

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Acceptable

*Using positive language

*Remaining Calm

*Listening carefully

*Addressing issues with a positive, respectful and helpful attitude.

*Work in an open environment

*Treat every child equally and with respect and dignity

*Encourage open communication

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Unacceptable

*Using offensive language e.g.  swearing, racial, cultural, homophobic or sexist slurs. (Read Section 4 - Diversity and Equity of this Policy.)

*Being abusive or intimidating e.g. yelling, finger pointing, talking over the top of others, or reducing a child to tears as a form of control.

*Being passive aggressive e.g. purposely ignoring, isolating or dismissing others.

*Bullying with any physical or psychological threats.

*Being alone with a child when there is no professional reason for doing so.

*Favouring one child over the others.

*Asking a child to keep a secret.

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  3. Social media and communication

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Please complement the following section with the Social Media Policy.

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Acceptable

*Members should only use open forums to communicate with children.

*Promote events and your school with social media.

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Unacceptable

*Contacting children via private messages where open communication is possible.

*Communicating (online or offline) with a child about romantic, intimate or sexual feelings.

*Making sexually suggestive comments

*Using camera to record a child while dressing, bathing or using bathroom

*Fail to act on, and record, any allegations made by a child.

*Allow photos or videos of children without their parent’s consent.

 

  4. Photographing and filming 

1. CBA protects the identity of members including children, young and disadvantaged adults. 

2. CBA will not use children’s images online without the previous consent of their parents or guardians. 

3. Unauthorised persons can’t video the Cecchetti work and post it as the Cecchetti syllabi, due to it infringing our intellectual property and copyright.

4. When video examinations must take place for certification purposes, permission must be obtained at least 48 hours prior to the examination.

5. Contact the National Office at enrico@cecchettiballet.org to access the most updated version of Release Media and Video Exams Waiver forms.

  5. Teaching under alcohol, recreations drugs and child abuse images (pornography) is extrictly unacceptable and prohibited. 

  6. Giving or offering a child gifts, food, cigarettes, money, attention or affection in exchange for sexual activities or images is strictly prohibited and unacceptable.

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(2) TEACHERS/EXAMINER TRAINING

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1. Time will be allocated in the National Council Meetings to discuss opportunities for improvement with regard to teacher/examiner training. This will be a standing item on all National Council Meeting Agendas.

2. CBA provides protection for the health, safety and welfare of its members and, without limiting the ordinary meaning of such expression this includes adequate and appropriate referral to support services in terms of academic and personal counselling.

   1. The National Secretary can assist with the names of agencies and individuals who may be able to assist. In addition to appropriate state government websites that provide educational gateways and support links.

3. CBA complies with all laws relevant to the operation of the training/workplace premises including occupational health and safety and fire safety regulations and ensure that the training/workplace premises are of adequate size and have adequate heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation.

4. CBA implements fair educational programs and geographic resource allocation practices to maximise the participation of target groups. 

5. CBA provides culturally inclusive literacy and numeracy training that meets individual, community and industry needs.

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(3) CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS

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1. CBA will deal with customer complaints and appeals in an open, constructive and timely manner.

2. It is our policy to ensure that

   1. Each complaint / appeal and its outcome is recorded in writing

   2. Each appeal is heard by an independent panel

   3. Each appellant has an opportunity to formally present their case

   4. Each appellant is given a written statement of the appeal outcomes including reasons for the decision.

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(4) DIVERSITY AND EQUITY

1. CBA is committed to ensuring that access and equity considerations are incorporated in the provision of training delivery and assessment. This means that all of our students are entitled to the best possible training delivery.

2. We achieve this by employing qualified and experienced staff and offering our students and members flexible training options, ensuring that we recognise the needs of each individual student, customising their training experience to best suit their skill development needs.

3. The importance of diversity and equity is mentioned on the official website, as well as job ads and contracts.

4. CBA encourages mutual respect, openness and support to all its members and the Cecchetti’s community. We understand the diversity within the community and are willing to help within our scope to those in need.

5. CBA pays particular attention to those who are vulnerable.

   • Children with disability, Aboriginals, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, etc.

   • CBA fosters respect and support the wellbeing of all children, and promotes a culturally safe environment for them and their families within CBA’s scope of practice.

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(4.1) RACISM

1. CBA is firmly committed to providing a working, teaching and learning environment that is free from racism. Racism not only denies a person’s fundamental human right to respect, it reduces their opportunity to gain a fair share of Organisations valued resources such as education and employment.

2. CBA recognises that the achievement of equal employment opportunities and equal educational outcomes is dependent on the provision of a discrimination and harassment free environment.

3. CBA recognises the community’s racial and ethnic diversity and acknowledges that people from a non-English speaking background and Aboriginal people, in particular, have experienced and continue to experience institutional disadvantage, racial prejudice and discrimination.

1. CBA expresses unconditional rejection of racist behaviour and its commitment to eliminate racism in its organisational structure through the provision of training programs that are equitable, accessible and culturally inclusive.

(4.2) SEXUAL HARASSMENT

1. CBA is strongly committed to placing the welfare of children first. Staff should be aware of indicators of abuse and neglect as well as the procedure to follow in the case of a concern about safety, welfare and wellbeing. 

2. CBA is firmly committed to providing equal employment opportunities and educational outcomes for all staff and students. We recognise that these achievements are dependent on the elimination of sexual harassment from the working and learning environment.

3. CBA recognises that it is the legal responsibility of management to take all reasonable steps to ensure that staff and students are not subject to sexual harassment.

 

(5) BREACH

1. Behaviour that breaches this Policy is strictly unacceptable at our organisation.

2. If any Member breaches this Policy, the following disciplinary procedures may apply:

   • a formal warning;

   • a requirement to provide an apology (either verbal or in writing);

   • a requirement to attend discrimination related training;

   • a requirement to attend counselling;

   • Suspension or cancellation of Cecchetti Ballet Membership;

3. These disciplinary procedures will apply equally and fairly to any Member who breaches this Policy, regardless of that Member's position or seniority at our organisation.

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