This set of principles has been designed to assist members in sound professional judgement while upholding ethical ideas and obligations. Our code of ethics was created by the predecessor to ITPA, The System Administrators Guild of Australia (SAGE-AU), and is globally recognised, having been adopted as the basis for similar codes of conduct by other like-minded organisations all over the world.

Our code of ethics commit our members to maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the computer systems they manage, for the benefit of all of those involved with and affected by them.  No single set of rules could apply to the enormous variety of situations and responsibilities that exist, but while IT Professionals must always be guided by their own professional judgment, we hope that consideration of this code will help when difficulties arise.

Members of ITPA are required to abide by our code of ethics at all times - failure to do so may result in exclusion from the organisation.

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ITPA Code of Ethics

Fair Treatment

I will treat everyone fairly. I will not discriminate against anyone on grounds such as age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race or national origin.

Privacy

I will access private information on computer systems only when it is necessary in the course of my duties. I will maintain the confidentiality of any information to which I may have access. I acknowledge statutory laws governing data privacy such as the Australian Privacy Principles.

Communication

I will keep users informed about computing matters that may affect them -- such as conditions of acceptable use, sharing of common resources, maintenance of security, occurrence of system monitoring and any relevant legal obligations.

System Integrity

I will strive to ensure the integrity of the systems for which I have responsibility, using all appropriate means -- such as regularly maintaining software and hardware; analysing levels of system performance and activity; and, as far as possible, preventing unauthorised use or access.

Co-operation

I will co-operate with and support my fellow computing professionals. I acknowledge the community responsibility that is fundamental to the integrity of local, national, and international network resources.

Honesty

I will be honest about my competence and will seek help when necessary. When my professional advice is sought, I will be impartial. I will avoid conflicts of interest; if they do arise I will declare them.

Education

I will continue to update and enhance my technical knowledge and management skills by training, study, and the sharing of information and experiences with my fellow professionals.

Social Responsibility

I will continue to enlarge my understanding of the social and legal issues that arise in computing environments, and I will communicate that understanding to others when appropriate. I will strive to ensure that policies and laws about computer systems are consistent with my ethical principles.

Workplace Quality

I will strive to achieve and maintain a safe, healthy, productive workplace for all users.