Designed especially for early childhood education and care environments, and based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) the ECA Code of Ethics reflects current pedagogical research and practice, providing a framework for reflection about the ethical responsibilities of early childhood professionals who work with or on behalf of children and families in early childhood settings.
How often do you refer to the ECA Code of Ethics with your team, and how do you use it to inform practice and pedagogy? Click here to join the conversation.
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Code of Ethics Poster$30.25$24.20 Member Price
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Code of Ethics Brochure$2.00
Ethics in Action
A practical guide to implementing the ECA Code of Ethics
By Dr Lennie Barblett, Catharine Hydon and Dr Anne Kennedy
This easy-to-use practical guide is suitable for all educators, managers, leaders and childhood professionals caring for children from birth to 12 years of age. This essential and practical 95-page guide to the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Code of Ethics clearly explains what ‘code of ethics’ means in everyday practice. You will discover case studies, scenarios and provocations to help guide you with everyday ethical implementation. Developed from the early learning and care sector’s desire to commit and enact ethics in daily practice, this easy-to-use publication will support you in bringing ethics into action!
It comes with Practice Tool templates (over 25 pages) that you can photocopy, as well as additional resources, and also provides suggestions on how to put ethics into action. The Ethics in Action guide has three main sections, each containing resources for all levels—from emerging through to experienced educators. This includes a section that will stretch knowledge and understanding of ethics for current practitioners.
ECA Learning Hub
Discover how educators might use the Code of Ethics to support their everyday decision-making
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Working with the ECA Code of Ethics$49.50$44.55 Member Price -
Ethics and the Early Years Learning Framework – ECA in Conversation$27.50$24.75 Member Price -
Acting Ethically: Exploring the ECA Code of Ethics$27.50$24.75 Member Price
I refer to the code of ethics for decision making with an emphasis on values and principles in relation to everybody within my work place.
A code of ethics define the core aspirational values of the professional and provide guidance for for professional decision making especially when there are conflicting obligations or responsibilities . it is fundamental and prized values of the profession. it is very important responsibilities for or kinship relationship with a children . and families in education and care setting . professional have legal legal and and ethical responsibilities it develop my professionalism . thinking deeply about how I make decision in relation to children , families and colleagues and communities
A code of ethics is a set of statements about appropriate and expected behaviour of members
of a professional group and, as such, reflects its values. The Code that follows was developed
by a National Working Party of the Australian Early Childhood Association, with
considerable input from the field, and therefore, is a code that is owned by the field, not
imposed upon it
I have been in the industry over a decade. I have referred Code of Ethics as a foundation for our industry. I provide all my educators with it and quizzes them.
I have been a consultant for the last twenty years and have always referred to it when mentoring services. It is important to validate reasons for compliance and quality improvement and this document is our sectors underlying foundation for high quality service provision. I have most recently used the document to reinvigorate educators to see themselves as professionals and It is reader friendly so users can easily be reminded of the 5 groups we are committed to
The first Code of Ethics was adopted in 1990, this was during my last year of full time study as a Mothercraft Nurse (aka Diploma qualification). It must of been a hot topic of conversation as I have also referred to in my work as an early childhood educator/teacher/professional, particularly when advocating for student placements and workplace training – I have always felt it important to support new professionals and give them the same opportunities I had as a student, working alongside professionals that have high expectations of children and themselves.
The code is so versatile, it can inspire a philosophy, support an action in a QIP, embedded a deeper understanding of what it means to be a professional and, it can keep us grounded – focused on children, families and communities. When the Code of Ethics is upheld by a professional it keeps them accountable and causes a ripple effect on those around them.
The Code of Ethics has informed most of my decision making for the last few years. Being a consultant and working with very diverse teams, I would often use the Ethical Decision Making Cycle to help us work through challenges and ethical dilemmas in a productive and constructive way. This was a particularly useful way of conceptualizing the impacts of the pandemic on different groups of people such as families, children, educators, and the like. I also really lean on the Code of Ethics as a tool for exploring professionalism with groups of educators, unpacking what each component means in the context of people’s work and how they see themselves in relation to the sector as a whole.