Organizations are required in every state in Australia where adults have access to children to provide a child safe environment. The Working with Children check varies state to state but in most cases managing this is very difficult.
An individual might present a card – but is it valid?
If it is valid, what happens when it expires?
If it is valid what happens if the individual becomes disqualified?
How do you ensure your organisation is notified of disqualification?
If you organisation’s details change how do you ensure all individuals make this change on their card?
Once you have all this information, how do you manage it?
Who is in charge of it in your organisation?
Which filing cabinet are the documents kept?
If you’re an office bearer, who does this information pass to?
As an organisation it us your responsibility to:
– not involve anyone who does not have a valid check in child-related work
– not allow people who are charged with, convicted or found guilty of sexual, violent or drug offences to work with or care for children while their application is processed or their check reassessed
– check if a person is allowed to work with children on check status
– check that any self-employed person, such as a coach or tutor, has a valid check and is not prohibited from working with children.
– ensure supervisors and other workers who have contact with children have a check
– ensure that a person who has a Negative Notice does not work with or care for children, even if they are exempt or you can arrange supervision of their contact with children
– ensure paid workers doing child-related work have an Employee Check, not a Volunteer Check