Professional Conduct

General conduct

Teacher Candidates are guests in our FoE partner schools and centres and their behaviour may affect opportunities for future Teacher Candidates. Teacher Candidates are expected to be punctual, maintain professional communication (oral, written, and electronic/online, including e.g., Zoom or WebEx remote learning sessions) with placement setting staff, students, and peers and demonstrate the capacity to work collaboratively and with an attitude that supports professional behaviour.

Teacher Candidates are expected to comply with University policies, including:

  • Student Conduct Policy (MPF1324)
  • Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Policy (MPF1328)
  • Information Security Policy (MPF1270)
  • Provision and Acceptable Use of IT Policy (MPF1314)

Teacher Candidates must also be aware of and comply with the Victorian Teaching Profession Code of Conduct and Ethics and the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics.

Teacher Candidates should dress appropriately for their placement setting, recognising that expectations differ between contexts. If unsure, Teacher Candidates are to check with their mentor teacher or Clinical Specialist.

Courteous staffroom conduct, contribution to coffee funds and care with equipment and resources are further examples of sensible and appropriate conduct.

Defamatory remarks (verbal and written, including on social media) regarding students, staff and placement settings is not permitted under any circumstances and may result in discontinuation of a placement.

Teacher Candidates should strictly avoid giving personal details to students or families and/or seeking such details from them.

Physical contact with the intention to punish, discipline or restrain students, or contact which is prolonged, effusive or of a sexual nature should be strictly avoided under all circumstances.

Teacher Candidates must ensure that their mobile phone is turned off during planning, teaching and evaluative sessions and at all school/centre meetings. Mobile phones must also be turned off during all placement seminars.

Social media

Expectations about staff and student behaviour extend to the use of social media where there may be a connection to a Teacher Candidate's work or studies. Teacher Candidates should consider their conduct in public forums outside the placement setting such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, which are easily accessed by students and parents.

Teacher Candidates are advised to ensure they are not represented inappropriately in social media and that private domains are used for personal interactions. Teacher Candidates should strictly avoid contacting and giving their social media details to students, accepting social media invites from students, or requesting social media details from them during or after their placement.

Discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying

Discrimination, sexual harassment, and bullying are unlawful in all work and education environments. If a Teacher Candidate feels they have been discriminated against, sexually harassed, or bullied by someone employed by a placement setting or organisation at which they are on placement or by a student or client of the placement organisation, the University’s Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Bullying Prevention Advisers can provide support and advice.

Similarly, if a staff member or student at a placement claims that they have been discriminated against, sexually harassed or bullied by a Teacher Candidate, University Advisers can provide assistance. For more information see the Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Policy (MPF1328) or contact the Safer Community Program.

Student confidentiality and authorisation

Confidentiality of placement setting and student information must be maintained at all times. References to specific students and placement settings should be deleted when reproducing examples in assessment tasks.

Collection of work for correction or for sample illustration must be authorised by the Mentor Teacher and, where possible, the students themselves.

Students may only be photographed, audio or video-taped with prior parental/legal guardian permission and in accordance with the relevant protocols of the particular placement setting. Teacher Candidates can retrieve consent forms from the Canvas LMS.

Retention of resources and students' work from placement settings

Any books or other resources borrowed from placement settings during the placement must be done so with permission from the placement setting and returned before the end of the placement.

Any costs related to loss or damage of placement setting property use is the Teacher Candidate’s responsibility. Electronic resources remain the property of each placement setting and can only be downloaded with permission.

Commitments to assess students’ work must also be discharged, and any work returned before the end of the placement. E&AL subject results may be withheld pending the return of resources or students' work to the placement setting.