Code of conduct and volunteer commitment to GetUp Vision and Purpose

GetUp welcomes volunteers who share GetUp’s vision and values and want to join Action Groups to create a better society for Australia.  The purpose of this document is to clearly state the vision and values that underlie the way GetUp and its volunteers conduct GetUp’s campaigns and actions.

As Action Groups grow, commitment to GetUp’s vision, principles, values and ethical behaviours will be important in helping us forge respectful, productive and cohesive groups that are effective and rewarding for everyone.

GetUp’s Vision for our society is:

• A Fair Australia, where society is defined by social and economic equity and where everyone has the opportunity to succeed
• A Just Australia, where there is justice, equality and compassion for all, no matter where you come from, how you worship or who you love
• A Flourishing Australia, where a safe climate and a vibrant natural world is preserved for future generations
• A Thriving Democracy, where corporations and power-brokers don’t control our country and everyone’s voice is valued.

In GetUp, we commit ourselves to the following principles:

• Recognition that sovereignty was never ceded by the first peoples of Australia. We recognize first Australians, their culture, history and future as important in all the work that GetUp members do.
• Guidance by progressive values, not party politics. GetUp is independent of political parties, factions and party politics and it is important to maintain our reputation as an independent progressive movement.
• In action groups we are careful to ensure that our actions and statements reflect GetUp campaigns and would be supported by the wider GetUp community.

As a volunteer and member of an action group, I will:

• Treat everyone with respect and dignity – including my fellow group members, the communities that we work in and also those who disagree with us.
• Help create a welcoming, enjoyable and respectful space that affirms and empowers those around me.
• Encourage an environment that respectfully allows for a diversity of viewpoints and cultures.
• Approach the discussion of issues, ideas and direction with careful attention and openness, seeking to fully understand the views of others.
• Work to build the size and diversity of my action group knowing that power comes not only from our numbers but also from our diversity.
• Be accountable and responsible to carry out the actions I commit to.
• Ensure that my actions and comments align with GetUp’s vision and principles.

How we work together:

• Volunteers recognise that within the GetUp community, staff and their campaign teams take the major role in setting direction and deciding campaign priorities and strategies.
• The GetUp community of staff and volunteers is a collaborative one in which ideas from any quarter are considered as constructive contributions to campaigns and our ongoing development.
• GetUp maintains communication platforms to enable new ideas and learning from our actions and campaigns, to be shared across the organization.
• GetUp Action Groups work to organise at the local level and build the movement across the nation
• The Community Organising Team provides guidance and support, however members of Action Groups are primarily reliant on one another and volunteer-led State Support Teams
• Local groups can describe their place within the GetUp community as being part of a network of self-organising volunteer-run GetUp groups.

General GetUp code of conduct:

All volunteers and Organising staff are bound by the general code of conduct. Individual action groups are encouraged to expand and further develop additional codes of conduct for their groups, however these basic requirements will exist regardless.

Our code of conduct is simple:

• Racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, ageist language will not be tolerated
• Intentional breaches of data and privacy will not be tolerated
• We have a zero tolerance policy of any form of harassment and bullying

In addition, GetUp volunteer are expected to understand and agree to the following:

1. That GetUp is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and the Australian Privacy Principles;
   
   • Members' personal information is being shared with you for the purposes of - promoting and receiving feedback on GetUp's campaigns and events only (prescribed purposes). Any use outside of the prescribed purposes is unauthorised by us;
   • You will not store, use or disclose personal information other than for the prescribed purposes; and
   • You will follow the direction of GetUp staff in respect of the personal information.
2. We may also use your personal information so that your local GetUp Action Group can reach out to you with opportunities to participate the GetUp Action Group Network. GetUp Action Groups are member-led groups that work on building power in their communities and on critical GetUp campaigns.

Any member that does not abide by the above principles, values, vision and code of conduct should expect to be held to account. If there is a serious breach of the code of conduct, volunteers should expect to be suspended from GetUp pending review with possible termination if the review finds that their conduct has not been in accordance with the above.

More information can be requested on these processes by contacting us at takeaction@getup.org.au