Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct outlines the expected standard of behaviour for students.
In general, it is expected that as a student you will:
• Be responsible for your study program
Treat staff and fellow students courteously and with consideration at all times
including refraining from any activities that may be construed as harassment
including bullying and cyber-bullying
• Maintain a reasonable standard of grooming, including appropriate standards of
hygiene and clothing
• Take reasonable care of South Metropolitan TAFE property, equipment, and
facilities
Sanctions, such as revoking computer or library privileges, withholding results, and
suspension or expulsion from South Metropolitan TAFE, may be applied where
students fail to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. South Metropolitan
TAFE by-laws provide further information on what is expected of students and the
penalties that may be applied. A copy of the by-laws can be obtained from the
website.
If you are unsure about what is the right thing to do in any circumstance, you are
encouraged to ask advice from our staff.
The conduct expected of a student is outlined in more detail below:
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Dress standards
Students are expected to dress in a manner that is neat, clean and safe at all times, as
would be expected in the workplace. You are also expected to wear any PPE
(Personal Protection Equipment) or other attire as required by your course.
Alcohol and drugs on institute premises
Students are not allowed on South Metropolitan TAFE premises or to use its facilities
whilst adversely affected by alcohol or other drugs. The possession, use or sale of illicit
substances on college premises is forbidden.
Smoking on institute premises
Smoking is forbidden throughout South Metropolitan TAFE premises and facilities,
including all outdoor areas, and taking in the areas immediately outside entrances to
South Metropolitan TAFE buildings.
Eating and drinking on institute premises
Eating is restricted to the canteen and communal, uncarpeted areas and is not
permitted in classrooms or the libraries.
Occupational health and safety
We are committed to promoting a safe and healthy work and study environment and
recognises its obligation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (OS&H
Act) to, so far as practicable, provide and maintain a working environment where its
employees and students are not exposed to hazards. The OS&H Act also requires
individuals to take responsibility for contributing to their own safety in all circumstances.
Conduct dangerous to others
Conduct, which constitutes a danger to anyone’s health, safety or personal well-being,
will not be tolerated. It includes physical abuse, threatening behaviour, harassment,
discrimination, possession of dangerous weapons, or the creation of a condition that
endangers or threatens the health, safety or well-being of self or others.
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Unacceptable behaviour
Conduct which disrupts staff and hinders them from delivering education and training
programs and services or other services in an orderly manner is a breach of our Bylaws.
This applies not only in classrooms, but in all parts of South Metropolitan TAFE
and during field trips or on work placements. Any individual or group behaviour, which
is abusive, indecent, violent, excessively noisy, disorderly, dangerous, offensive or
which unreasonably disturbs other groups or individuals is prohibited.
Personal use of websites, social media sites and posts
SM TAFE students can post to, or create, social media sites or websites for personal
use so long as such social media sites or websites are not construed as official SM
TAFE Facebook groups, social media sites or websites.
When posting to or creating social media sites or websites for personal use, SM
TAFE students must ensure that content is not defamatory to SM TAFE, its
Governing Council, employees, students or stakeholders. Students are personally
liable for their posts and the social media sites they create.
Any posts that contain defamatory or negative comments aimed at damaging SM
TAFE’s reputation or the reputation of its lecturers that are identified as having been
made by a student will be noted on that student’s record, and sanctions may be
imposed as per the Student Code of Conduct Policy.
Misuse of college property
Any act of misuse, vandalism, theft, malicious or unwarranted damage or destruction,
defacing (including graffiti), disfiguring, or unsafe or unauthorised use of property is a
violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
Compliance with published policy
Policies have been developed to guide students in the use of some of the facilities
within South Metropolitan TAFE. You should make yourselves familiar with these
policies, as you are required to comply with them if you use those facilities.
They include:
• Authorised Use of Computing Facilities
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o This policy is posted in every room in the institute with computing facilities for
students’ use. See below.
• Conditions of Use of Libraries
o Students must abide by the Library Conditions of Membership that are displayed
in all Libraries and on the library section of the website.
Academic misconduct
Academic misconduct includes:
• Regular lateness in attending classes and lateness in submitting assignments and
assessable work.
• Failure to attend classes or other contact sessions and failure to submit assessable
work according to deadlines.
Academic misconduct also includes:
Cheating
Cheating means gaining an unfair advantage in an assessment by deception
or a breach of the rules governing the assessment.
Plagiarism
The term plagiarism refers to taking and using another person's ideas, writing
or inventions as your own and failing to acknowledge the source and is not
acceptable.
Copyright
You may only copy materials in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 and you must
comply with licences for the use of intellectual property, including software. If you
repeatedly use the South Metropolitan TAFE ICT network to infringe copyright, your
ICT network access privileges may be suspended.
Confidentiality
As an enrolled student, you may be required to attend practical work experience
placements as part of your studies. In the course of these placements, you may
become familiar with information that is confidential to that workplace. You must not
divulge any information that you may become aware of as a result of a placement.
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Sanctions
Behaviour contrary to the student code of conduct often also constitutes a breach of our
by-laws. There are a number of sanctions (penalties) that can be imposed on people
who breach the Institute's By-laws including fines, suspension, expulsion or other
exclusions, and withholding results.
You should appreciate that serious offences such as assault, theft, wilful damage and
unlawful activities are highly likely to attract a suspension or even expulsion.
For a serious offence, suspension may be applied immediately, obviously impacting on
your ability to continue or complete your studies.
For minor breaches of the code of conduct you will receive a warning asking you to
rectify your behaviour. This may be a verbal reminder of the expected behaviour or an
official written warning. Sanctions may be applied, including suspension, for consistent
minor breaches of the code of conduct.
You should be aware that external authorities, such as the police, may be involved, in
addition to any action taken under the by-laws, where a student’s conduct breaks the
law.
Further assistance
If you have concerns about any aspect of our service, or suggestions about improving
services, we want to know about them. You can bring your concerns or your
suggestions to the attention of relevant staff by completing a complaint or suggestion
form available at our Client Services area at any campus location, or through an online
form via our website.
If you have any questions about the matters covered in the Student Code of Conduct,
you should ask your lecturer or another staff member for assistance. Security staff are
also available at some campuses to protect both property and people. They are
available to you for assistance in any matter of access or security. Security staff will
contact police and other emergency services if necessary.