The World Relief Australia Code of Conduct (WRA CoC) is a voluntary code that sets minimum acceptable standards for smaller NGOs that work in the international relief and development sector.
The Code aims to maintain and enhance the standards of organisations that commit to this Code thus:
a) Ensuring that public confidence is maintained in organisations adhering to this Code so that individuals, foundations and corporations that donate to these organisations know that the donations will be used responsibly and effectively to help the poor and needy in developing countries irrespective of nationality, race, gender, political conviction or religious belief.
b) Improving the quality and effectiveness of relief and development initiatives. Mechanisms exist to evaluate compliance to the Code and deal with alleged breaches of the Code.
Signatories to this Code are also required to meet state and federal legal obligations relating to their work. These obligations may include rules of incorporation of associations, Australian Securities & Investments Commission requirements, fundraising and charitable institutions legislation, privacy legislation, equal employment opportunity principles, occupational health & safety standards, anti-discrimination, intellectual property and copyright legislation and other codes of conduct.
All Australian organisations that partner with World Relief Australia (WRA) must adhere to the WRA CoC or the ACFID Code of Conduct (www.acfid.asn.au/code-of-conduct). However, organisations may choose to become a signatory to the WRA Code of Conduct without partnering with World Relief Australia.
Application process
WRA Code of Conduct Signatories Organisations that comply with the WRA CoC are authorised to display the Code of Conduct logo on their website and publicity.