Code of Conduct (Coogee’24)

The Sydney Quantum Information Theory Workshop is committed to ensuring attendees are not subjected to behaviours, practices or processes that may constitute discrimination, harassment or victimisation outlined by this code and by the law.

This Code of Conduct intends to provide guidance to workshop attendees in their interactions with others during the workshop.

This Code is a set of general principles rather than detailed prescriptions. It stands besides but does not exclude or replace the rights and responsibilities of members to their employing organisations, under Common Law or any Commonwealth and State legislations.

Any sort of discrimination, harassment or victimisation will not be tolerated, and any concerns should be raised to Workshop organisers so immediate appropriate action can be taken.

Personal and professional conduct

Workshop attendees should:

  • refrain from all forms of discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
  • treat other members and members of the public with dignity, courtesy and respect; and
  • give due credit to the contributions of others.

Discrimination and sexual harassment

Discrimination is treating, or proposing to treat, someone unfavourably because of personal characteristics which includes a disability, parental status, race, colour, descent, national origin, age, sex, industrial activities, religion, pregnancy, breastfeeding, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, political opinion, social origin, medical record, or an association with someone who has or is assumed to have one of these personal characteristics or may have it at some time in the future.

Sexual Harassment is a specific and serious form of harassment. It is unwelcome sexual behaviour, which could be expected to make a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Sexual harassment can be physical, spoken or written. It can include:

  • comments about a person’s private life or the way they look;
  • sexually suggestive behaviour, such as leering or staring;
  • sexually suggestive comments or jokes;
  • displaying offensive screen savers, photos, calendars or objects;
  • repeated unwanted requests to go out;
  • sexually explicit posts on social networking sites;
  • insults or taunts of a sexual nature;
  • intrusive questions or statements about a person’s private life;
  • sending sexually explicit emails or text messages;
  • inappropriate advances on social networking sites; and
  • behaviour that may also be considered to be an offence under criminal law, such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking or obscene communications.

Workshop attendees are asked to:

  • not discriminate anyone in connection with the Workshop on any personal characteristics;
  • not engage in any form of sexual harassment; and
  • ensure all communication is appropriate for a professional audience including people from different backgrounds and personal characteristics. Sexual language and imagery in presentations is not appropriate.

Victimisation

Victimisation is subjecting or threatening to subject someone to a detriment because they have asserted their rights under equal opportunity law, made a complaint, helped someone else make a complaint, or refused to do something because it would be discrimination, sexual harassment or victimisation.

It is also victimisation to threaten someone (such as a witness) who may be involved in investigating an equal opportunity concern or complaint.

Workshop attendees are asked to not engage in, nor encourage any forms of victimisation.

Breaches of the Code of Conduct

Breaches of this Code of Conduct will not be tolerated. Any breaches or concerns should be reported to any of workshop organisers, anonymously if desired:

Attendees may also contact EQUS Interim Chief Operations Officer Ilan Mears (coo@equs.org).

Any communication regarding the breach of conduct will be treated confidentially and will be responded to within 24 hours if contact details are supplied. Participants will be asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour immediately. Participants may be asked to leave workshop and may be barred from attending future workshops.