Code of Conduct – Research Data & Software

Our code of conduct is designed to promote a healthy and welcoming culture for all our team members, and applies to everyone at RDS. All team members are responsible for reading and understanding the code. The code does not change any contractual obligations (all staff are subject to the University of Macquarie Code of Conduct), but rather is the minimum standard expected from everyone at RDS.

To ensure consistency and mutual commitment, RDS requires that our user community, partners and clients, and our stakeholders comply with our Code of Conduct.

Our Values

Our values are a part of everyday life for the RDS team, each one guides how we treat each other, and those we work with, from community members to investors.

Be Kind

Being Kind is one of our core values, and we approach each interaction with compassion and understanding. When each team member thrives, productivity soars; kindness just makes good business sense. To create this culture we invest heavily in building diverse and inclusive teams, and supporting mental health and the work-life balance. We strive to foster a workplace environment that actively promotes team member’s wellbeing, and carefully consider how our words will impact others.

When we feel safe, healthy and respected, we can make good decisions together.

Be Trustworthy

We aim for excellence in every project we undertake, no matter how small, and it’s critical that we do so with integrity. We choose the path that instills trust with our stakeholders, and each other. It’s our job to manage outside interests responsibly and with respect to the AAO and University as a whole. Conflicts of interest should always be raised pro-actively to safeguard the work and efforts of our colleagues at RDS.

Own Responsibility

Everyone at RDS, managers, leaders, and team members, all have a shared responsibility not only to treat each other with kindness, but to speak up when things go awry, and to be responsible for our own work and mistakes. Sharing our mistakes and what we’ve learnt with the team creates space for honesty and growth.

Applying Our Values

We work with groups that also have a healthy workplace culture, and expect everyone to behave ethically, honestly, and respectfully in all interactions with RDS team members.

Behave professionally. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary comments or jokes are not appropriate. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, sustained interruption of RDS team members, inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo, deliberate intimidation, stalking, and photography or recording of an individual without consent. It also includes offensive comments related to issues including race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, political opinion or religion. Swearing that is targeted at an individual or individuals, and is part of a verbal or physical attack on another member of staff; or that is threatening, aggressive or obscene by nature is prohibited.
All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual or sexist language and imagery is not appropriate.
Be considerate and respectful to others. Do not insult or put down other team members. Critique ideas rather than individuals. Remember, it is easier to criticise than it is to create. Be mindful of the effort and value others place in their work - everyone is doing their best.
Everyone works differently. A good process to you may seem illogical to others.
Our team members need uninterrupted work hours to skilfully carry out their roles. All communication will go through an RDS project manager, unless otherwise agreed.
We seek to communicate our policies clearly, and enforce them consistently. Individuals engaging in behaviour prohibited by this policy as well as those making allegations of harassment in bad faith will be subject to disciplinary action. Such actions range from a verbal warning to termination of contract without refund.

We aim to build software and instrumentation that provides positive experiences for our community, with a strong commitment to platform integrity, accuracy, and clear communication. We share our concerns if a service or part isn’t working well, and strive to make things right.

At RDS, we work with integrity and will report any suspicious activity immediately to the necessary authority. We don’t accept any improper payments, and respect all international laws against bribery and corruption.

We are truthful, transparent, and accurate in our record-keeping and documentation. We never knowingly falsify, misstate or inaccurately represent metrics or financials. We don’t profit on inside information; and compete fairly for contracts.

All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. We seek to communicate our policies clearly, and enforce them consistently.

This is the default Code of Conduct for all RDS workshops, and outlines the minimum expectation for behaviour and conduct of all participants at RDS hosted or endorsed meetings or events, and RDS members at all meetings or events.

Behave professionally. Harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary comments or jokes are not appropriate. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo, deliberate intimidation, stalking, and photography or recording of an individual without consent. It also includes offensive comments related to issues including race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size or religion.
All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual or sexist language and imagery is not appropriate.
Be considerate and respectful to others. Do not insult or put down other attendees. Critique ideas rather than individuals.

Individuals engaging in behaviour prohibited by this policy as well as those making allegations of harassment in bad faith will be subject to disciplinary action. Such actions range from a verbal warning to ejection from the meeting or activity in question without refund of registration fees and the reporting of their behaviour to their employer.

Anyone who wishes to report a violation of this policy is asked to speak confidentially to the meeting organisers.

"Be mindful of the effort and value others place in their work - everyone is doing their best."

The RDS code does not replace specific contractual requirements. The RDS Meetings & Events Code of Conduct is based on the Astronomical Society of Australia’s code. The RDS code draws on elements from the excellent SnapChat Code of Conduct, Dropbox Code of Conduct, and the Atlassian Code of Conduct.