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13.11.3.1 Working with Children Checks

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13.11.3.1 Working with Children Checks

VCES and MRCAETS Board members, DVA staff and third party service providers, including tutors engaged by parents and paid by DVA, are required to obtain and maintain a current Working with Children Check, as their usual duties may involve, or are likely to involve, contact with children in the form of providing a counselling or other support service. Overall national information can be found here.

State legislation in Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales requires employees and volunteers involved in child related work to obtain a Working With Children Check.  These Checks examine the criminal record of the person to confirm if they have been convicted of, or charged with, certain prohibited offences.  If a person receives a negative notice they must not carry out child related work.

In South Australia, persons whose employment requires regular contact with children are required to obtain a police clearance.

In the ACT, people working with children are required to obtain a Working With Vulnerable People check.

In Tasmania, the Department of Health and Human Services has committed to establishing a centralised background checking and risk assessment process for volunteering or working with children and vulnerable people. It is anticipated that legislation (Draft Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Bill 2013) will be introduced to the Tasmanian Parliament in 2014. In the interim, the VCES Secretary undertakes a Police Check for Board Members.

Staff and Board members who have face-to-face contact with minors in more than one State or Territory are required to obtain the relevant clearances from each jurisdiction.