Policies
EWB is committed to upholding the highest standard of project delivery and professional conduct in our work with communities.Anti-bribery and Corruption
EWB Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and is committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all EWB Australia relationships and business dealings wherever EWB Australia operates, and implements and enforces effective systems to counter bribery and corruption.
Code of Conduct
The EWB Code of Conduct sets the standard of behaviour for all EWB personnel representing or working on behalf of EWB, including: board members, employees, volunteers, interns, visitors, accompanying dependantof personnel, contractorsand partner organisations.
Communications
Engineers Without Borders Australia commits that employees, volunteers, interns, board members, funding partners, and community stakeholders have a right to accessible, consistent, timely, and accurate information about EWB Australia’s work. Publicity is considered an important element in accomplishing the organisation’s overall mission, to promote EWB Australia’s brand and strengthen its reputation as an organisation focused on positive community impact.
EWB Australia supports a culture of open, informed and respectful communication that promotes positive collaboration and cross cultural awareness, and which does not engender or sustain harmful racial, social, and/or cultural stereotypes. All communication will be professional and underpinned by considerations of appropriate privacy and confidentiality principles.
The CEO, employees, volunteers, interns, and Board members all share an organisation wide communication responsibility – to take in information that is communicated, to share information as appropriate, to contribute to dialogue, and to respect confidentiality.
Conflict of Interest
Engineers Without Borders Australia recognises that conflicts of interest may arise, and if managed transparently and supported by robust systems, need not present a problem to the organisation. The purpose of the policy is to protect EWB’s interests when considering entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an employee or director of the organisation. EWB Australia acts in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001.
Dispute Resolution and Complaints Handling
Dispute Resolution and Complaints Handling
EWB Australia complaints handling process provides a confidential, safe and inclusive environment in which concerns can be raised and resolved. EWB Australia seeks to provide an accessible, confidential platform through which complaints can be registered, and a transparent, accountable and objective resolution process.
Whistleblowing
Engineers Without Borders Australia is committed to creating and maintaining an open working environment where concerns regarding actual or suspected unethical, unlawful or undesirable conduct can be raised and addressed. The EWB Australia Board and Leadership Team recognise that any genuine commitment to detecting and preventing illegal and other undesirable conduct must include a mechanism whereby employees and others can report their concerns freely and without fear of reprisal or intimidation.
If you wish to submit a whistleblowing disclosure, please complete this form (link to Whistleblowing page).
Diversity & Belonging
Engineers Without Borders Australia recognises and respects qualities which are unique to individuals such as gender, language, ethnicity, age, religion, disability and sexual orientation. We are committed to an inclusive culture which values diversity of thought, opinion and background, and encourages equal access to opportunities.
Ethical Partnerships
Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) strives to uphold high ethical standards in its governance, programs and operations. To achieve our mission of creating change through human-centred engineering, EWB relies on forming partnerships with multiple sectors. The Ethical Partnership Policy outlines the ethical standards required of our partner organisations. This policy recognises our commitment to donors and our networks to live our values and deliver on our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals; to a world where no-one is left behind.
Environmental and Sustainability
EWB recognises that human-induced climate change isa key threat to environments and to people(including children, people of different gender, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable or disadvantaged groups),who may be affected by environmental impacts in different ways.We recognise our responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment and to act to improve the environments in which we work.
Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination
EWB Australia is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all EWB people engaged in our work, protecting them from discrimination, harassment and bullying.
EWB encourages inclusion and diversity in our work, and respects the contribution of each individual regardless of their gender, language, ethnicity, age, religion, disability and sexual orientation.
Our policy provides a mechanism to raise a grievance in regards to discrimination, harassment and bullying without fear of retribution. It also aims to ensure that such grievances are appropriately investigated, that respondents receive fair and equitable treatment and that disciplinary action is taken where appropriate.
Finance
The Engineers Without Borders Australia Finance Policy sets out the minimum level of financial control required for EWB Australia.
Fraud Prevention
The purpose of the Fraud Prevention Policy sets out the responsibilities of managers, employees and volunteers in the event of fraud or corruption. Engineers Without Borders Australia takes a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, corruption or financial impropriety perpetrated against the organisation, paid staff, contractors, volunteers, members, partner organisations or members of the public.
Health, Safety & Risk
Engineers Without Borders Australia is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all people engaged in our projects and work. EWB Australia implements a thorough risk management approach and is committed to identifying and implementing appropriate risk management controls across the organisations.
View our Work, Health & Safety policy
Engineers Without Borders Australia acknowledges that internal and external factors exist which creates uncertainty as to whether, and to what extent, we are able to meet our organisational objectives, this uncertainty equates to risk. EWB Australia aims to use best practice approaches to risk management and is committed to identifying and implementing controls which mitigate our risk exposure and risk escalation. We are committed to risk management across all areas of the organisation and ensure risk management is integrated in all decision-making processes. EWB Australia is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace and environment for our personnel, visitors and other stakeholders. It is the responsibility of all members of the EWB Australia community to be aware of and to effectively manage risk according to our principles.
View our Risk Management policy
Non-development Activity
Engineers Without Borders Australia will only complete aid or development activities. Any potential projects or programs considered to be non-development activities will not be completed by EWB.
EWB is a community organisation that creates social value through engineering. It is a secular organisation and does not engage in or support any evangelical activities and is not linked to any political party. In some instances EWB may partner with local faith based organisations on the basis that their delivery is without evangelising or making participation conditional on conversion or adherence to a particular religious denomination. It also may partner with advocacy organisations on the basis that their activities are not in support of a political party or candidate.
EWB is committed to ensuring that funds and other resources designated for the purpose of aid and development are used only for those purposes. EWB does not provide support for partisan political activities which are those that are associated with facilitating or supporting specific political individuals to gain power.
Philanthropy & Fundraising
Engineers Without Borders Australia is committed to ensuring that philanthropic and fundraising activities are carried out in an ethical manner. As a registered charity, this policy outlines EWB Australia’s commitments and obligations as per the Australian Charities and Not-for Profits Commission (ACNC), ACFID Fundraising Charter, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and fundraising licencing authorities.
Photo, Footage and Story Policy
Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB Australia) uses images, videos and stories from our volunteers, members, staff and community partners in our various marketing and communications publications, including our social media platforms.
This Photo, Footage and Story Policy represent EWB’s commitment to capturing and publishing images, footage and stories that represents individuals and organisations accurately, and that the dignity and values of the people involved are respected. This policy provides guidance relating to the use of photos, footage and stories that are captured, used and published through EWB activities.
Privacy
Respecting the privacy of people who engage with Engineers Without Borders Australia is an important value that we are committed to upholding. Our obligations are mirrored in the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct, to which EWB Australia is a signatory. EWB Australia takes reasonable steps to protect the personal information it collects and stores from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. Personal information will always be kept confidential and will not be shared, sold or rented to any third party and we will only disclose information if we believe we have a duty to do so by law, or as agreed to in advance by the owner of the personal information.
Procurement and Consultancy
This policy outlines EWB’s standards for procurement to follow best practice and to deliver a consistent approach, and includes: achieving value for money; encouraging competition by ensuring non-discrimination in procurement and using competitive procurement methods; promoting use of resources in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner;and making decisions in an accountable and transparent manner.
Reconciliation Action Plan
EWB’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) builds on our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations, bringing consciousness reconciliation in all action and across every part of EWB.
Safeguarding Children & Adults
EWB Australia has zero tolerance for all forms of exploitation, abuse and harassment. EWB is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for the individuals and communities we work in Australia and overseas. We promote gender equality and encourage women and girls to participate in projects and the engineering sector. EWB has robust policies and procedures in place, including thorough recruitment and screening, as we recognise our responsibility to protect the people we work with, particularly children and vulnerable adults from exploitation, abuse, and harassment in all aspects of our work.
For further queries contact safeguarding@ewb.org.au.
View our Child Protection policy
EWB Australia’s Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment policy (PSEAH) outlines EWB’s approach to prevent and manage SEAH incidents and reports across the organisation.
View our Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment policy.
Transparency
EWB Australia is committed to being transparent in our work and accountable to our stakeholders and community. We are committed to disclosing timely, relevant and accurate information in an accessible format.