{"id":"F2023L01725","name":"Disability Services and Inclusion (Code of Conduct) Rules 2023","slug":"disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442225,"registerId":"F2023L01725-fast-fetch-1775957281534","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Disability Services and Inclusion (Code of Conduct) Rules 2023","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-keywords: \"[SEC=OFFICIAL]\"\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nDisability Services and Inclusion (Code of Conduct) Rules 2023\n\nI, Amanda Rishworth, Minister for Social Services, make the following rules.\n\nDated 15 December 2023\n\nAmanda Rishworth\n\nMinister for Social Services\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n1 Name\n\n2 Commencement\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Definitions\n\nPart 2—Main code of conduct\n\n5 Purpose of this Part\n\n6 Main code of conduct\n\n7 When covered person breaches code of conduct because of conduct by other persons\n\nPart 3—Transitional code of conduct\n\n8 Purpose of this Part\n\n9 Transitional code of conduct\n\n10 When eligible organisation, person or body breaches transitional code of conduct because of conduct by other persons\n\n11 Specified programs made for the purposes of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Disability Services and Inclusion (Code of Conduct) Rules 2023.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n (1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n \n\n- Commencement information\n- Column 1 Column 2 Column 3\n- Provisions Commencement Date/Details\n- 1. The whole of this instrument The later of:(a) the day on which the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 commences; and(b) the day after this instrument is registered. 1 January 2024(paragraph (a) applies)\n\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under the following:\n\n (a) the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023;\n\n (b) the Disability Services and Inclusion Act (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2023.\n\n4  Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n(a) eligible activity;\n\n(b) key personnel.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023.\n\ncovered person: see subsection 6(1).\n\nSocial Services Department means the Department administered by the Minister administering the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023.\n\nspecified program means a program, or part of a program, specified in section 11.\n\nTransitional Provisions Act means the Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2023.\n\nPart 2—Main code of conduct\n\n \n\n5  Purpose of this Part\n\n  For the purposes of subsection 20(1) of the Act, this Part makes provision for and in relation to a code of conduct.\n\n6  Main code of conduct\n\n (1) This section sets out a code of conduct that applies to a person (a covered person):\n\n (a) to whom money may be payable under an arrangement made under section 13 of the Act; or\n\n (b) who receives a grant of financial assistance under that section.\n\n (2) In undertaking an eligible activity to which the arrangement or grant relates, the covered person must:\n\n (a) act with respect for the individual rights of people with disability to freedom of expression, self‑determination and decision‑making, in accordance with applicable laws and conventions; and\n\n (b) respect the privacy of people with disability; and\n\n (c) provide the eligible activity in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill; and\n\n (d) act with integrity, honesty and transparency; and\n\n (e) promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of the provision of the eligible activity to people with disability; and\n\n (f) take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against, and exploitation, neglect and abuse of, people with disability; and\n\n (g) take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.\n\n7  When covered person breaches code of conduct because of conduct by other persons\n\n (1) This section sets out the circumstance in which a covered person breaches the code of conduct set out in subsection 6(2) because of an act, or an omission to perform an act, by:\n\n (a) a member of the key personnel of the covered person; or\n\n (b) another person (an employee) who is employed, or otherwise engaged, by the person.\n\n (2) The circumstance is that:\n\n (a) the member or employee undertakes, or participates in undertaking, an eligible activity for or on behalf of the covered person by:\n\n (i) providing the eligible activity to a person with disability; or\n\n (ii) engaging with a person with disability (or the person’s family or carers) regarding the person’s participation in the eligible activity; or\n\n (iii) performing duties in relation to the complaints management and resolution system implemented and maintained by the covered person; or\n\n (iv) performing duties in relation to the incident management system implemented and maintained by the covered person; or\n\n (v) doing anything incidental to any of the matters mentioned in the preceding subparagraphs; and\n\n (b) while undertaking, or participating in undertaking, the eligible activity, the member or employee does not comply with the code of conduct.\n\nNote: For the requirement for the covered person to implement and maintain a complaints management and resolution system and an incident management system, see subsections 15(4) and (5) of the Act.\n\n (3) Subsection (2) applies whether or not the member or employee undertakes, or participates in undertaking, the eligible activity during the ordinary working hours of the member or employee.\n\nPart 3—Transitional code of conduct\n\n \n\n8  Purpose of this Part\n\n  For the purposes of subitem 11(1) of Schedule 3 to the Transitional Provisions Act, this Part makes provision for and in relation to a code of conduct.\n\n9  Transitional code of conduct\n\n (1) This section sets out a code of conduct that applies in relation to the following:\n\n (a) an eligible organisation that receives a grant of financial assistance as mentioned in paragraph 11(1)(a) of Schedule 3 to the Transitional Provisions Act;\n\n (b) a person or body that is a party to an arrangement as mentioned in paragraph 11(1)(b) of that Schedule;\n\n (c) a person who is mentioned in paragraph 11(1)(c) of that Schedule because the person receives, for the purposes of a specified program, money under an arrangement under section 32B of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997;\n\n (d) a person who is mentioned in paragraph 11(1)(d) of that Schedule because the person receives, for the purposes of a specified program, a grant of financial assistance under section 32B of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997.\n\n (2) In undertaking an activity to which the arrangement or grant relates, the eligible organisation, person or body must:\n\n (a) act with respect for the individual rights of people with disability to freedom of expression, self‑determination and decision‑making, in accordance with applicable laws and conventions; and\n\n (b) respect the privacy of people with disability; and\n\n (c) provide the activity in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill; and\n\n (d) act with integrity, honesty and transparency; and\n\n (e) promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of the provision of the activity to people with disability; and\n\n (f) take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against, and exploitation, neglect and abuse of, people with disability; and\n\n (g) take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.\n\n10  When eligible organisation, person or body breaches transitional code of conduct because of conduct by other persons\n\n (1) This section sets out the circumstance in which an eligible organisation, person or body breaches the code of conduct set out in subsection 9(2) because of an act, or an omission to perform an act, by:\n\n (a) a member of the key personnel (within the meaning of the Act) of the eligible organisation, person or body; or\n\n (b) another person (an employee) who is employed, or otherwise engaged, by the eligible organisation, person or body.\n\n (2) The circumstance is that:\n\n (a) the member or employee undertakes, or participates in undertaking, an activity to which an arrangement or grant mentioned in subsection 9(1) relates for or on behalf of the eligible organisation, person or body by:\n\n (i) providing the activity to a person with disability; or\n\n (ii) engaging with a person with disability (or the person’s family or carers) regarding the person’s participation in the activity; or\n\n (iii) performing duties in relation to any complaints management and resolution system required to be implemented and maintained under the arrangement or grant; or\n\n (iv) performing duties in relation to any incident management system required to be implemented and maintained under the arrangement or grant; or\n\n (v) doing anything incidental to any of the matters mentioned in the preceding subparagraphs; and\n\n (b) while undertaking, or participating in undertaking, the activity, the member or employee does not comply with the code of conduct.\n\n (3) Subsection (2) applies whether or not the member or employee undertakes, or participates in undertaking, the activity during the ordinary working hours of the member or employee.\n\n11  Specified programs made for the purposes of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997\n\n (1) This section specifies programs and parts of programs for the purposes of subparagraphs 11(1)(c)(ii) and (d)(ii) of Schedule 3 to the Transitional Provisions Act.\n\n (2) The programs mentioned in item 50, 54, 236, 356, 404, 502, 503, 539 and 559 of Part 4 of Schedule 1AB to the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 are specified.\n\n (3) Each part of a program mentioned in item 51, 52 or 511 of Part 4 of Schedule 1AB to the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 that is administered by the Social Services Department and provides a direct benefit to people with disability is specified.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The rules apply to recipients expressly described in the Act and Transitional Provisions Act: those receiving payments or grants under section 13 (main code) and specified transitional recipients or program participants (Part 3 and section 11). The instrument narrows scope by listing covered persons and specified programs rather than expanding coverage beyond those statutory categories (see sections 6(1), 9(1) and 11). There is no textual indication in this instrument that it broadens the classes of persons beyond those set in the Acts."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple statutory cross‑references to the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 and the Transitional Provisions Act for definitions and scope (sections 3–4, 5, 8–9).","Two parallel codes (main and transitional) with nearly identical obligations, increasing duplication in compliance design (Parts 2 and 3; sections 6 and 9).","Vicarious‑type exposure where a covered person can breach the code because of acts or omissions by key personnel or employees (sections 7 and 10).","Obligations framed in broad, qualitative terms—e.g. 'all reasonable steps', 'safe and competent'—which require operational interpretation by providers (sections 6(2)(c),(f),(g); 9(2)).","Explicit linkage to operational systems (complaints management and incident management) that providers must implement and maintain, creating concrete administrative burdens (see notes at sections 7(2)(a)(iii)-(iv) and 10(2)(a)(iii)-(iv) and cross‑reference to subsections 15(4) and (5) of the Act).","Commencement depends on timing of the parent Act and registration, with an expressed date note (section 2), complicating transition planning.","Specification of certain programs by reference to items in the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations requires cross‑checking external instruments to determine coverage (section 11)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument creates a mandatory code of conduct for people and organisations that receive government money or grants under section 13 of the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023, and for specified transitional recipients and programs. It takes effect when the Act commences (section 2).\n\nThe code requires respect for the rights and privacy of people with disability; safe, competent service delivery; integrity and transparency; prompt escalation of quality or safety concerns; and steps to prevent or respond to violence, exploitation, neglect, abuse and sexual misconduct (sections 6(2), 9(2)). Recipients can be held responsible for failures by key personnel or employees carrying out covered activities, including complaints and incident management (sections 7, 10)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: establishing codes of conduct for disability service providers. The inclusion of transitional arrangements for legacy programs (Part 3) is a standard legislative technique to ensure continuity during scheme transition, not a scope expansion. The instrument does not wander into unrelated policy areas."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (11 sections total)","Minimal defined terms (only 5 definitions in section 4, plus references to Act definitions)","Simple structure with parallel provisions for main and transitional codes","Limited cross-referencing (primarily to the parent Act and Transitional Provisions Act)","Straightforward conditional logic in attribution sections (7 and 10) using basic 'if-then' structure","No nested exceptions or complex provisos","Substantive obligations repeated nearly verbatim in sections 6 and 9, reducing cognitive load"],"plain_english_summary":"The Rules create a mandatory Code of Conduct for anyone receiving federal funding under the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023, plus a Transitional Code for providers still on older funding while they move to the new system. They affect funded disability service providers, their staff and key personnel, and make organisations legally responsible — including vicariously liable — for staff or contractor breaches, strengthening accountability for safety, privacy, choice and abuse prevention."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023","history":"/api/acts/disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/disability-services-and-inclusion-code-of-conduct-rules-2023/documents"}}