YOUR COMMITTEE & MENTORS

ETHICAL STANDARDS

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Verndogs takes pride not only in the training of dogs, but the standards of human behaviour too. We do not tolerate or condone any form of bullying, animal cruelty, illegal behaviour, or provision of false information.

To obtain an assistance dog, handlers must first have a disability. You will provide proof of this to Verndogs through a Doctor Declaration form which is included with your application. Failure to provide this proof means Verndogs cannot process your application further.  A disability in Australia is defined by The Disability Discrimination act 1992 as:

disability, in relation to a person, means:

1. total or partial loss of the person’s bodily or mental functions; or

2. total or partial loss of a part of the body; or

3. the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; or

4. the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; or

5. the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person’s body; or

6. a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or

7. a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person’s thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgment or that results in disturbed behaviour;

and includes a disability that:

1. presently exists; or

2. previously existed but no longer exists; or

3. may exist in the future (including because of a genetic predisposition to that disability); or

4. is imputed to a person.

To avoid doubt, a disability that is otherwise covered by this definition includes behaviour that is a symptom or manifestation of the disability.

Verndogs do accept people with a multitude of psychiatric disabilities and understand some diagnoses may include symptoms such as delusions, irritability, mood swings, aggression, impulsivity, mania, paranoia, hallucinations, difficulties with interactions, panic attacks, altered consciousness, compulsive lying, inappropriate social interactions, sensory issues, difficulty understanding others emotions, apathy and others symptoms which can generally be seen as detrimental and unacceptable by the public. We understand many of these symptoms are difficult to regulate and manage, but you are responsible for managing these symptoms and maintaining reasonable control in order to keep you and other members safe and free from harm. See our ‘self help’ section of the website for resources for mental health support.

Should you be caught breaking any of Verndogs Ethical Standards or terms and conditions, your membership may be immediately terminated or suspended. If you wish to dispute a termination or suspension, contact Verndogs directly.

Definitions of each Verndogs Ethical Standard:

Bullying 

Bullying is when people repeatedly and intentionally use words or actions against someone or a group of people to cause distress and risk to their wellbeing.

The sort of repeated behaviour that can be considered bullying includes:  

• Keeping someone out of a group (online or offline)

• Acting in an unpleasant way near or towards someone

• Giving nasty looks, making rude gestures, calling names, being rude and impolite, and constantly negative teasing.

• Spreading rumours or lies, or misrepresenting someone (i.e. using their Facebook account to post messages as if it were them)

• Mucking about that goes too far

• Harassing someone based on their race, sex, religion, gender or a disability

• Intentionally and repeatedly hurting someone physically 

• Intentionally stalking someone

• Taking advantage of any power over someone else like a Prefect or a Student Representative.

https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/commission-general/what-bullying-violenceharassment-and-bullying-fact-sheet  

Harassment

Harassment can be against the law when a person is treated less favourably on the basis of certain personal characteristics, such as race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, breastfeeding, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Some limited exemptions and exceptions apply.

Harassment can include behaviour such as:

• telling insulting jokes about particular racial groups

• sending explicit or sexually suggestive emails or text messages

• displaying racially offensive or pornographic posters or screen savers

• making derogatory comments or taunts about someone’s race

• asking intrusive questions about someone’s personal life, including his or her sex life.

https://humanrights.gov.au/quick-guide/12040  

Stalking 

Stalking is defined under this law and includes:

‘the following of a person about or the watching or frequenting of the vicinity of, or an approach to a person’s place of residence, business or work or any place that a person frequents for the purposes of any social or leisure activity’.

The person being stalked may only realise they are being stalked once they identify a pattern of strange or suspicious incidents occurring, such as:

• phone calls

• text messages

• messages left on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter etc.

• notes left on their car

• strange or unwanted gifts left at their home

• an awareness that they are being followed

• being continually stared at or gestured to by another person.

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/crime/domestic_and_family_violence/what_is_stalking  

Stalking online

Technology like the internet or mobile phones can be used to harass, intimidate or control you.

This may include:

• harassing you or making threats on social media sites

• posting (or threatening to post) embarrassing, fake or intimate videos, photos or comments about you

• gathering information

• impersonating you

• interfering with your computer

• tracking what you do online.

https://www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au/the-crime/types-ofcrime/stalking#:~:text=Stalking%20is%20a%20crime%20in%20Victoria.%20If%20you,syste m%20in%20Victoria%20and%20what%20to%20do%20next. 

Defamation 

Defamation is where a person or small business seeks damages for loss of reputation due to someone publishing or otherwise distributing defamatory material that causes others to think less of them. Defamatory material can take many forms including blogs, articles, novels, poems, photos, songs, emails, cartoons, drawings, paintings, online reviews, social media posts, and more.

Defamatory matter can also be broadcast or spoken (e.g., a person might be defamed on a radio show or in a public presentation). If you state or spread something defamatory in any public forum, including over the internet, you could be taken to court.

Defamation law is designed to protect all Australians from false or damaging statements being made about them that may cause harm to their personal or professional reputation. It enables those who have been defamed to seek compensation for financial and other losses resulting from a defamatory publication of any kind.

https://www.slatergordon.com.au/disputeresolution/defamation#:~:text=Defamation%20law%20is%20designed%20to%20protect%20 all%20Australians,resulting%20from%20a%20defamatory%20publication%20of%20any%20 kind  

Disturbing behaviour

A disturbance could include:

• assault or threat of assault

• use of threatening or abusive language

• behaviour that is uncontrolled, violent, disorderly, indecent, offensive or threatening

• behaviour that causes a substantial, unreasonable annoyance or disruption

• willful damage to property.

https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/register-or-report-to-police/report-a-crime-ordisturbance/report-a-nuisance-ordisturbance#:~:text=behaviour%20that%20is%20uncontrolled%2C%20violent%2C%20disor derly%2C%20indecent%2C%20offensive,property.%20How%20to%20report%20a%20nuisan ce%20or%20disturbance  

Animal Cruelty 

Cruelty to animals

1. A person shall not commit an act of cruelty upon an animal.

2. A person in charge of an animal shall not authorise the commission of an act of cruelty upon the animal.

3. A person in charge of an animal shall not fail at any time—

1. to exercise reasonable care, control or supervision of an animal to prevent the commission of an act of cruelty upon the animal,

2. where pain is being inflicted upon the animal, to take such reasonable steps as are necessary to alleviate the pain, or

1. where it is necessary for the animal to be provided with veterinary treatment, whether or not over a period of time, to provide it with that treatment.

Tethering of animals

(1)  A person shall not—

1. tether an animal, or

2. where the person is a person in charge of an animal—authorise the tethering of the animal,

for an unreasonable length of time or by means of an unreasonably heavy, or unreasonably short, tether.

Certain procedures not to be performed on animals

(1)  A person shall not—

1. dock the tail of a horse, bull, ox, bullock, steer, cow, heifer, calf or dog,

2. crop the ears of a dog,

3. operate upon a dog for the purpose of preventing the dog from being able to bark, https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1979-200#sec.5  

Provision of False or misleading information

307B False or misleading information (1) A person is guilty of an offence if--

1. the person gives information to another person, and

2. the person does so knowing that the information--

1. is false or misleading, or

2. omits any matter or thing without which the information is misleading, and

(c) any of the following subparagraphs apply-- (i) the information is given to a public authority,

1. the information is given to a person who is exercising or performing any power, authority, duty or function under, or in connection with, a law of the State,

2. the information is given in compliance or purported compliance with a law of the State.

CRIMES ACT 1900 - SECT 307B

CRIMES ACT 1900 - SECT 307B False or misleading information (austlii.edu.au)  

Illegal Behaviour

Verndogs and all its members must comply with Australian Federal Law.  

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“When a law of a State is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth, the latter shall prevail, and the former shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be invalid.” Section 109 – Constitution.

All Verndogs teams are expected to follow the Disability Discrimination Act, 1992, and does not impose any laws set out by the state. This includes all state Dog and Cat Management Board(s). There is no expectation to comply with the Guide Hearing and Assistance Dog Act. The only expectation is to comply with federal law. Teams are welcome to follow their local state and territory laws, but there is no expectation to do so.

https://www.alrc.gov.au/publication/for-your-information-australian-privacy-law-and-practice-alrcreport-108/3-achieving-national-consistency/the-federalsystem/#:~:text=Section%20109%20of%20the%20Australian,the%20inconsistency%2C%20be%20inv alid'.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00125