AISWA Membership Code of Conduct

Membership means that schools are independent, that they are registered and that they aspire to principles of good practice.

The members of AISWA are Independent Schools in Western Australia.

Independent Schools are schools which:

  • are registered under Section 160 of the School Education Act 1999;
  • provide full-time tuition with adequate staff;
  • are not run for profit; and
  • are not administered by or on behalf of the Government of Western Australia.

A school is eligible to apply for membership of AISWA provided it satisfies the criteria for admission to membership under clause 5.2 of the aiswa-constitution.pdf.

Registration of a school requires that the school:

  • is incorporated under the Associations Incorporations Act or otherwise provides evidence of the school’s not-for-profit status;
  • is responsible and ethical in the use of public monies provided for the education of students;
  • has an appropriate governance structure defined by a constitution; and
  • can demonstrate that it has policies and procedures in place that will enable the school to meet the requirements of the School Education Act 1999 and the School Education Regulations 2000.

In serving their communities, member schools should aspire to high standards of school governance by basing their policies and procedures on principles of good practice and demonstrating:

  • the setting of strategic direction for the school;
  • ethical decision-making to ensure that decisions are well informed and transparent;
  • accountability for the financial viability of the school in order to ensure that the school can deliver the education offered to students to support the school’s mission;
  • awareness by school committee members, board members and governors of their roles and responsibilities and those of management;
  • accountability for the governance standards of the school;
  • responsible management of the school; and
  • sound employment practices at the school and the effective use of government funding.

Inherent in accepting membership of AISWA is an acceptance by a school as a member, it has a responsibility to ensure that no action by the school should bring AISWA and its other members into disrepute.