Part 3: Participant Code of Conduct
If you are running workshops, focus groups or discussions, it is helpful to provide a Code of Conduct to ensure all participants feel comfortable to be themselves and feel psychologically safe throughout the session. An example of a typical Code of Conduct is given below, and can be downloaded for use
Code of Conduct
Workshops and Discussions
By participating in this activity, you agree to the following:
- Be open-minded. Listen to and acknowledge all points of view.
- Be respectful. The purpose of this session is to discuss, not debate or argue. Be respectful of differing opinions, perspectives, identities, and experiences.
- Be accepting. Suspend judgment as best you can.
- Be curious. Seek to understand rather than persuade. Look to question your own assumptions and uncover new insights.
- Appreciate difference. Look for common ground and accept/appreciate that there will be times when there will be disagreements on some beliefs and opinions.
- Be authentic. Speak from your personal experience and share what resonates and is important to you. Appreciate and welcome that others are doing the same.
- Be brief. Be purposeful and brief when speaking. Be considerate to not dominate the conversation and allow all participants the chance to share.
- Consider use of humour. Think twice before sharing a joke as to ensure that there is minimal to no chance that the joke could be misinterpreted, misunderstood, and possibly cause offense or discomfort among members of the group.
- Avoid politics and other polarising topics. Please refrain from political banter and polarising comments (e.g. gender/sex) whenever possible as these sessions are open to all members of our community, and we would like to ensure all participants are comfortable and feel psychologically safe.
