AAGRA Code of Conduct

This ‘proposed’ Code of Conduct provides an overview for the interactions and communications between our members, and between our members and their clients.  This guide should be read in conjunction with AAGRA’s Code of Ethics, which provides an overview of our guidelines for responsible and ethical conduct in relation to genealogical research.

All Members will:

• Show courtesy and respect in all activities.
• Communicate in a clear and courteous manner and not use offensive language, bullying, harassment or discriminatory techniques.
• Give honest accurate advice, information, reports and charts.
• Clearly show what is reasonably satisfied to be “proven”, “probable” and what cannot be verified and why, including a list of sources checked.
• Give credit to the author of others works if content is used in the clients commission.
• Handle all records with due care and follow rules and instructions of all archival repositories that are accessed.
• Immediately declare any conflict of interest which may affect decisions of the committee.
• Immediately declare any conflict of interest which may affect outcomes towards any client.
• Treat sensitive family history discoveries with care when relaying information.
• Not withhold information relating to clients instructions/commissions to the client.
• Keep clients DNA results confidential, unless the client has given permission for sharing of the results to enable completion of the commissioned work.
• Treat information relating to living people responsibly and with sensitivity and according to the law.
• Gain informed consent before publicly presenting any information of living people, other than that which is already publicly available.
• Not publish works paid for by a client without the clients consent.
• Only accept commissions that within their abilities without discussing the matter with the client.
• Set reasonable deadlines to achieve the outcomes of clients commissions and communicate these and provide timely updates of any delays.
• Always work within the legalities of your country’s laws. This includes copyright, plagiarism, taxation, Australian Consumer Law etc.
• Act in a manner that will not jeopardise the reputation of AAGRA in any way.
• Co-operate with the committee in the investigation of any complaints made against you.