Released 27/10/2017
The ACT Government will pursue a number of amendments to the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 following a legislative review tabled in the Assembly yesterday.
These changes have been proposed to strengthen protections for vulnerable Canberrans, while reducing the regulatory burden of the Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Scheme on employers, community organisations and Access Canberra.
The Government will now consult on the implementation of the proposed changes to identify any unforeseen implications and ensure the community is kept informed.
The ACT Government is committed to a best practice WWVP Scheme and these changes will further strengthen the WVVP checking process and support moves towards national consistency.
A key change recommended by the review is to extend the registration period from three to five years. Implemented in conjunction with increased compliance measures, this recommendation maintains protections for vulnerable people while significantly reducing the regulatory and administrative burden on applicants, people registered under the Scheme and employers.
Another change is the introduction of disqualifying offences. This will exclude people with relevant and serious criminal history from the Scheme automatically.
A series of other recommendations seek to improve information sharing, introduce greater protections for vulnerable people and strengthen compliance mechanisms under the Scheme.
The review was required under the Working with Vulnerable People legislation to ensure that the scheme is examined for its effectiveness after being operational for a number of years.
Approximately 95,000 Canberrans have a current WWVP card.
The ACT and Tasmania are the only two jurisdictions with a scheme that includes vulnerable people in addition to children.
Comments attributable to Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion, Rachel Stephen-Smith:
“We will now consult with the community and key stakeholders, including the Human Rights Commission, on the implementation of the proposed changes to the Working with Vulnerable People scheme.”
“The increased registration period from three to five years will make the ACT’s scheme consistent with Victoria and NSW and we are confident it can be delivered without any reduction in the level of protection for vulnerable Canberrans.”
“The review has also been cognisant of the need to prepare for the national harmonisation of working with children checks, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. We will continue to work with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions to address this recommendation”
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases