Learn more about the DEA
Find out who is on the Board, our values, vision and mission, and key documents about our profession.
Meet the Board
Management Team
John Stokes
General Manager
Carina Beattie
DEA Advisor
Our Values and Mission
Our Values
The vision of the DEA is to advance the human rights of people with disability, and promote the profession of Developmental Education.
Our values promote the worth, dignity and uniqueness of all persons. We aim to empower people with disability to achieve full and effective inclusion in society, and maximise self-determination through access to information, choice, informed consent and advocacy in all decision making.
Our Mission
At the DEA, our mission is to represent Developmental Educators as their professional association and maintain common registration for all Developmental Educators. We aim to build a national association network across Australia for Developmental Educators, providing an accessible forum and networking space. We are committed to promoting the highest standards of professional conduct and practice among Developmental Educators and fostering ongoing professional education. Our goal is to raise public awareness about the profession of Developmental Education and to promote and elevate the role of Developmental Educators.
Scope, Competencies, Ethics, Governance and Complaints
The following documents collectively define the professional scope, competencies, structural and procedural rules and ethical standards for developmental education. They ensure that Developmental Educators provide high-quality services, operate with transparency and accountability, and adhere to rigorous professional guidelines.
Scope of Practice for Developmental Education
The purpose of the Scope of Practice for Developmental Education (2023) is to describe the guiding frameworks, professional roles, activities, and practice settings covered by the profession of developmental education in Australia. The Scope of Practice has been developed in alignment with the Code of Ethics and Practice for Developmental Educators (2014) and the Developmental Educators Core Competencies (2022). These documents describe the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and ethical behaviour expected of DEA members practicing in Australia.
Core Competencies
The Core Competencies operate in conjunction with the Code of Ethics and Practice for Developmental Educators (2015) the Scope of Practice for Developmental Education (2024). These documents describe the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and ethical behaviour expected of DEA members practising in Australia.
Code of Ethics and Practice for Developmental Educators
The Code of Ethics and Practice for Developmental Educators reflects the values, attitudes and responsibilities that characterise the practice of Developmental Educators.
The Code is binding for each member of the DEA and thus it contributes to the responsible and ethical practice by Developmental Educators. Members of the DEA renew their commitment to practice ethically and responsibly on an annual basis through the membership renewal process.
NDIS Code of Conduct
The NDIS Code of Conduct promotes safe and ethical service delivery by setting out expectations for the conduct of both NDIS providers and workers.
Unregistered Health Practitioners: Code of Conduct
In April 2015, Health Ministers considered the Final Report: A National Code of Conduct for health care workers that detailed the findings and recommendations that arose from the national consultation on standards of conduct for all health care workers who are not registered under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for health professions. Health Ministers agreed to the terms of the first National Code of Conduct for health care workers. The National Code sets minimum standards of conduct and practice for all unregistered health care workers. It also sets national standards against which disciplinary action can be taken including the issuing of a prohibition order. You can download the Final report National code of Conduct for Health Care Workers.
Each State and Territory is responsible for implementing the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers.
More information on the Code can be found through the states and territories:
Constitution
The Constitution of Developmental Educators Australia Ltd. (DEA) serves as the foundational legal document that defines the association’s purpose, structure, and operational procedures. It specifies the roles and responsibilities of members, outlines the governance framework, and sets forth the ethical guidelines and professional standards that must be followed.
Strategic Plan 2024-2027
The Strategic plan is a comprehensive roadmap that sets a clear direction for the next three years, focusing on empowering Developmental Educators and advancing the profession to new heights.
The plan outlines key priorities, including:
- Expanding professional development opportunities.
- Advocating for the recognition and value of Developmental Educators in the disability sector.
- Providing enhanced resources and support for practitioners.
- Promoting inclusive, evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
Complaints Process for Serious Breaches of Ethical Practice by a Developmental Educator
The DEA is committed to ensuring that its members adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice for the benefit of people with disability and their families/carers and is concerned and takes matters seriously when members practice outside of the acceptable standards as set out in the Code of Ethics and Scope of Practice. Comprehensive and sound governance is also an expectation of the professional associations representing the various allied health disciplines whose members seek to become a Service Provider with the National Disability Insurance Agency.
The Complaints Process serves as a mechanism to:
- Protect people with disability and their families/carers from harm and/or malpractice
- Address allegations of Serious Breaches of the Code of Ethics and Practice for Developmental Educators
- Educate Developmental Educators with respect to the standards set out in the Code.
Consult this suite of documents if concerned about the practice of a DEA member.
- DEA -By Laws-Ethics and Practice 2025
- DEA Complaints Process for Serious Breaches of Ethical Practice by a Developmental Educator
- Checklist for Complaints
- DEA Confidentiality agreement
The DEA strongly encourages anyone with a complaint to contact our General Manager at generalmanager@deai.com.au prior to lodging a complaint.
Privacy Policy 2025
DEA respects the privacy of its members. This policy provides information on how personal details are collected, used, stored, and protected. We are committed to keeping all information secure and confidential, and will only share data with consent or when required by law.
History of Developmental Education
The profession of Developmental Education has its roots in the early 1990s, when a dedicated group of Developmental Educators established the Developmental Educators Association (DEA). This pioneering body aimed to support the development of the profession and drew up the first Code of Ethics and Practice in 1994. However, maintaining membership proved challenging, prompting a broadening of eligibility to include a wider range of professionals working in disability. As a result, the association was renamed the Disability and Rehabilitation Professionals Association (dArpa).
In response to the active professional advocacy of Developmental Educators,
Developmental Educators Australia Inc (DEAI) was later formed in 2009. The DEAI received crucial support from the Public Services Association (PSA) during its formative years.
In 2011, the South Australian Commissioner for Public Sector Employment formally recognized Developmental Educators as Allied Health Professionals. This acknowledgment was codified in Determination 5, 2011.
Developmental Education is now recognised by the National Disability Insurance Agency and listed in the Pricing Arrangements under Capacity Building Supports and in the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Practice Standards Verification Module. Developmental Educators practice across Australia and are building a vibrant professional community.
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Smith, S., copyright © 2003 – 2009, conjecture corporation [Accessed 11th November, 2009]. Available from World Wide Web: (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-developmental-education.htm)
The Evolution of Professional Recognition for Developmental Educators in South Australia (2010). Renee Grootenboer, Master’s Project, Dept of Disability and Community Inclusion, Flinders University, South Australia
Determination 5 of the South Australian Commissioner for Public Sector Employment (determination%205_-_classification_and_remunerationpdf)
Rillotta, F., & Alexander, J. (2020). Roles and Responsibilities of Developmental Educators: Disability Professionals Supporting Australians with Disability. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 69(2), 451–466. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2020.1719987
Nancarrow, S. (2021). Emerging allied health professions. In The Allied Health Professions (pp. 107–130). https://doi.org/10.46692/9781447345381.006