ACS Professional Year Host Organisation Code of Conduct has been developed to provide a clear statement of the expectations of a host organisation facilitating a student internship as part of the Professional Year Program in ICT governed by Australian Computer Society (ACS) and delivered by its accredited providers. For the purposes of this engagement, an internship is a formal work experience arrangement that is part of an education or training course. Internships can give students important skills to help them transition successfully from study to work, while giving industry and business the opportunity to enrich student learning experiences and increase the number of work-ready graduates.

The code relates to how employers conduct themselves professionally and ethically. The values of professionalism, ethics, learning, and skill development should always be applied by host companies in their interactions with students, education providers, and their third parties. All host organisations are required to comply with the requirements set down in the ACS Host Company Organisation Code of Conduct (“Code”) as shown below.

Application of the Code

The Code applies to all host organisations who engage interns within their company as part of the ACS Professional Year Program in ICT and relates to all actions and activities as well as inaction/s that may affect or impact ACS, its students, its partners, third parties, and/or others.

The Code

Host Organisations must:

1. Abide by the policies and procedures of ACS, its partners, and/or third-parties, including all terms and conditions of Professional Year host company engagement.
2. Facilitate a Professional Year ICT Internship only after all company vetting and due diligence requirements are assessed and met under the education provider’s direction or its third party.
3. Host Professional Year internships in alignment with a nominated ICT-related occupational code (ANZSCO code), enabling the development of a skilled ICT workforce. For a list of ICT-specific ANZSCO codes, please refer to acs.org.au/msa/anzsco-code-information.html
4. Act both legally and ethically when facilitating a Professional Year student internship, with the objective of supporting the professional growth and skill development of students, as legislated under the Fair Work Act 2009, which stipulates the following guidelines for “vocational placement” adherence:
   1. The primary purpose of the internship is to provide a meaningful learning experience through practical training and skill development. The main benefit of the arrangement should be to the person doing the placement;
   1. Professional Year students are not to undertake productive work that is integral to the ordinary operation of the organisation, or that which should be performed by a paid employee;
   1. ACS acknowledges that in some cases the expectation to perform work as detailed above may be incidental to the learning experience but must not be for the operational or financial benefit of the organisation;
   1. No parties (including students, hosts, education providers, and third parties) are permitted to accept, offer, donate, or exchange payments, incentives, awards, or services for any internship- related engagement or activities.
5. Ensure the appropriate supervision and mentoring of Professional Year interns throughout the entirety of the internship duration.
6. Treat all interns with dignity, respect, and professionalism providing adequate duty of care.
7. Make provisions for placement monitoring to be conducted throughout the duration of the internship, including the completion of relevant assessment documentation with support from the education provider and/or its third party.

• Participate in open communication directing all feedback, correspondence, and required documentation regarding a student or internship to relevant Professional Year staff, following all reasonable directions of the education provider, its third party, or ACS, which may include ACS Quality Assurance Monitoring.

Any behaviour that contravenes the ACS Host Organisation Code of Conduct may result in the suspension or termination of internship/s and Professional Year Program engagement by ACS or its partners.

Criminal behaviour will not be tolerated and may be referred to the police.