August 2026
New ACIF template sets clear expectations
The Australian Construction Industry Forum has released a new Code of Conduct Policy Template to help organisations in the construction industry to establish clear expectations for behaviour, accountability and workplace conduct.
Developed through an Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) member working group, the Code of Conduct Template provides organisations with a practical starting point when establishing or strengthening their own codes of conduct.
The template covers expected standards of behaviour and unacceptable conduct, as well as how concerns should be raised and addressed. It sets out responsibilities for leaders and governing bodies and provides guidance on reporting, procedural fairness and consequences when standards are breached.
Importantly, it is designed to be adapted to an organisation’s own governance structure, workforce, legal obligations and operating environment, making it particularly useful for smaller organisations without dedicated human resources or legal teams.
The template includes guidance on issues ranging from bullying, harassment and psychosocial hazards to confidentiality and conduct in digital channels. It also provides suggested reporting pathways and a framework for proportionate responses to breaches.
ACIF Chair Shannon Battisson says the template reflected changing expectations across the construction industry. “Construction is changing, and expectations are rightly higher. This template gives organisations a practical framework to define the behaviour they expect, call out what is unacceptable, and act quickly when standards are breached.”
A stronger industry voice
Consult Australia is a member of ACIF, the peak national forum bringing together organisations involved in the planning, design and delivery of Australia’s built environment.
Consult Australia’s Head of Policy and Government Relations Kristy Eulenstein has recently been appointed Vice Chair of ACIF, strengthening the association’s involvement in the forum and its work across shared industry priorities.
“Our membership of ACIF gives us another avenue to amplify the issues that matter to Consult Australia members and work with the wider industry on practical solutions,” Kristy says.
“This template is a good example: rather than every organisation starting from scratch, the industry now has a robust foundation that can be adapted to suit organisations of different sizes and structures.
“There is real strength in bringing 20 member associations and more than 300,000 industry professionals together. ACIF gives us a place to work through the issues we share, learn from each other and speak with a stronger, coordinated voice across the built environment,” Kristy concludes.
Download the ACIF Code of Conduct Policy Template.