Yoga Australia aims to address grievances brought to its attention, as an essential part of maintaining both its own professional integrity and the professional integrity of the yoga teaching sector. Yoga Australia aims to address complaints using processes that are based on the values of respect, confidentiality, good-will and equality.
This information describes the general process for handling complaints , disputes, or grievances made against Yoga Australia and any of its members, by any yoga student, yoga teacher, yoga organisation or a person from the general public.
A complaint needs to be lodged in writing using the Yoga Australia Complaints Form, downloadable from this page.
Prior to making a formal complaint to Yoga Australia, it is encouraged and expected that all reasonable attempts have been made to resolve the complaint directly with the other persons or persons involved. It is also expected that the person making the complaint has read:
Within 14 days of its having received a Complaints Form, Yoga Australia will provide written acknowledgement that the complaint has been received. The Complaint Form will be forwarded to the Executive Committee of Yoga Australia who will nominate a person with the necessary skill and experience to manage the grievance resolution process. Yoga Australia will notify the person or persons being complained about, that a complaint has been received so that all parties can participate in resolving the grievance.
Yoga Australia has the discretion not to deal with a complaint if the complaint is lodged more than 12 months after the matter has occurred. Yoga Australia reserves the right not to consider anonymous complaints and may suggest alternative approaches to resolving the complaint. Complaints alleging criminal behaviour may be referred to the appropriate authority such as the police.
Yoga Australia will assess each grievance on a case-by-case basis and determine the most appropriate and useful role that Yoga Australia can have given the context and nature of that complaint.
Yoga Australia will actively encourage each person involved in the complaint to communicate directly with each other, preferably in person, but if this is not possible, then by phone or by other remote means. The person nominated by the Yoga Australia Executive committee will help to resolve the conflict by:
In cases that involve a substantiated breach of the Yoga Australia Code of Professional Conduct and Statement of Ethics or Rules of the Association by a member of Yoga Australia, Yoga Australia will make recommendations to the member involved to uphold the Code of Ethics and Rules of the Association.
If the grievance is being made against a member of the Yoga Australia committee, Executive, or staff, the same impartial consideration will be given to that complaint.
Where possible, reasonable attempts will be made to resolve the grievance within 28 days of the complaint having come to the attention of all people concerned.
The persons involved in the complaint have a right to appeal the decision of Yoga Australia. The appeal must be made in writing to Yoga Australia within 14 days of Yoga Australia having served its decision.
In some cases, Yoga Australia may decide that it cannot have a useful role in resolving the grievance.
If the matter remains unresolved, Yoga Australia will consider alternative ways of dealing with the complaint, including appointing an external third party or mediator to address and manage the complaint.
All attempts will be made to reach a resolution by negotiation and/or mediation as these processes encourage the conflicting parties to seek their own solutions and can often lead to satisfying outcomes to all parties. However, if the mediation process does not resolve the conflict, then an external party may be appointed to address the complaint through a process of arbitration or the dispute may be referred to a formal dispute resolution service.
At the completion of the formal dispute resolution process , the external party engaged to address the complaint will report the outcome to the Executive, Yoga Australia who will liaise with the parties to confirm resolution and closure of the complaint.