Membership Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct applies to all NZWCS members: a group of health care professionals, from a range of disciplines, who share a common interest in wound prevention and management. Our members share experiences, expertise and knowledge, and network with other members around New Zealand.

1. Purpose of this Code

This Code of Conduct describes values and standards of behaviour that are expected of all NZWCS members. A description of the membership categories can be found in Section 3 of the ‘Rules of The New Zealand Wound Care Society Incorporated’ which is located on our Who We Are page https://nzwcs.org.nz/about/who-we-are.

2. Membership Subscription

As outlined in Section 4 of the ‘Rules of The New Zealand Wound Care Society Incorporated’.

3. Fundamental Member Responsibilities

(a) All NZWCS members work to achieve, uphold and promote the NZWCS aims as outlined below;

i. To improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with wound and skin integrity problems.
ii. To provide and encourage best-practice wound prevention and management across all health care settings.
iii. To be a recognised voice at the international, national, and local level in any issues relating to wound healing or maintaining skin integrity.
iv. To participate in relevant or appropriate national and international forums and guideline development.

(b) To enable the NZWCS to achieve it’s aims members are asked to focus on education and professional development, as well as fostering and encouraging an evidence-based approach to wound management.

(c) Members who are a part of a NZWCS role/advisory or project group (Appendix A), will abide by the NZWCS strategic plan (available at:
https://nzwcs.org.nz/about/who-we-are), ensuring they are reasonably available, for meetings, and assistance at the NZWCS biennial conference, according to their skills and abilities, as agreed with the NZWCS.

(d) Corporate Memberships are owned by the Organisation not individuals and thus cannot be transferred

4. Standards of Behaviour

When representing the New Zealand Wound Care Society all members will:

(a) Always abide by their own individual professional code of conduct.

(b) Maintain and uphold all principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

(c) Act in a fair, honest, and proper way:

● be honest and fair in all their dealings
● declare any conflicts of interest before any meetings
● behave in a way that maintains and builds the reputation of the NZWCS
● be mindful of the need to protect the environment
● make decisions impartially, and accept responsibility for decisions made
● respect and follow NZWCS decisions and policy directions
● enter only into transactions and make promises on behalf of the NZWCS that NZWCS can honour
● do voluntary work for the NZWCS without desire for personal gain

(d) Create and maintain working relationships with each other, the NZWCS affiliated organisations and agencies and with the public:

● behave politely, sensitively, and respectfully
● value differences and behave in culturally appropriate ways
● avoid behaviour that could be considered harassment, exploitation, or discrimination
● recognise and respect other’s roles, contributions, experience, and skills
● recognise and respect differing opinions, and support the right that all points of view be heard
● recognise and respect the NZWCS affiliated organisations, and government agencies (a full list is available on the website)
● If any concerns/conflicts of NZWCS work arise, these need to be brought to the attention of the President of NZWCS via email.

(e) Protect information, funds, and assets of the NZWCS and its associates:

● understand that information, design, and intellectual property created for the NZWCS, remains the property of the NZWCS
● members will respect and understand that any presentations/written information/materials from NZWCS, its individual members and its affiliates i.e, guest presenters at NZWCS events, remains that of the presenter/s. Under no circumstance can members utilise this information unless formal written consent has been gained from the author/s, if consent has been granted then there must be formal acknowledgement of this.
● respect and maintain confidentiality as appropriate, both during membership and after retiring as a member.
● As further outlined in Section 12 of the ‘Rules of The New Zealand Wound Care Society Incorporated’: which is located on our Who We Are page https://nzwcs.org.nz/about/who-we-are.

(f) Media/social media of NZWCS

● Members are guided by their individual professional membership standards with regards to media and social media
● NZWCS specialist group members may speak with local community media and comment on local NZWCS events/promotions that they are directly associated with and are encouraged to share and publicise local events through these avenues. Local community media includes free community newspapers and local non-networked radio and TV stations.
● The National President and/or Vice President are the only officers who nominate other people to speak with national, or international media (this includes all media not defined under local/regional media above)
● NZWCS members understand the need for publicity which always includes an agreement with the rules of the NZWCS and always reflects positively on the NZWCS
● NZWCS specialist group members will always inform the NZWCS administrator of any contact with media

5. Disclosure of Potential or Actual Conflict of Interest

● Any member seeking election or appointment to a lead position within NZWCS, e.g. President, Vice-President, Treasurer, National Committee representative, Area Coordinators, Advisory or Project Group membership, must provide a written letter, declaring any conflicts of interests.
● A conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s interests interfere, appears to interfere, or has the potential to interfere, with the interests of the NZWCS.

6. Breach of the Code of Conduct

● If anyone considers that a member of the NZWCS has breached this Code of Conduct, they should inform in writing, the NZWCS Administrator, President or Vice President
● A breach is misconduct, the NZWCS will undertake an investigation, which may result in termination of NZWCS membership and removal from any advisory or project groups the member is involved with

7. Termination of Membership

● As outlined in Section 5 of the ‘Rules of The New Zealand Wound Care Society Incorporated which can be found on our Who We Are page:  https://nzwcs.org.nz/about/who-we-are

Appendix 1.

NZWCS Positions

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Regional National Committee members (13 areas)
Area Coordinators (13 areas)

Advisory Groups

Education Advisory Group
Financial Governance Group
Leg Ulcer Advisory Group
Pressure Injury Advisory Group

Project Groups

Conference Committee
Wound Awareness Week