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The requirement for suitability checks for staff and volunteers working with children and young people varies greatly across Australia. The following information and internet sites, are a guide to obtaining information on police clearances and checks. Links are provided where possible, and it is suggested that organisations are contacted for additional information. The Clearinghouse also has information relating to Guidelines and Training Programs.
The National Child Protection Clearinghouse cannot provide these clearances and checks. Additional information is available from the relevant States and Territories.
The Children's Commissions of New South Wales and Queensland are responsible for police checks and screening. Both NSW and Queensland legislate for minimum standards for those who work or volunteer with children in broadly identified occupations or activities to undergo screening for criminal offences. Western Australia passed legislation in November 2004 that will require certain people working with children to have a national criminal record check from 1 January 2006. Victoria also passed similar legislation in July 2005 that will be gradually phased in over five years from mid-2006. The Northern Territory has drafted legislation that currently is under consideration. Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory have released discussion papers, but have not yet drafted legislation. South Australia has not put forward specific legislation on this issue.
All States and Territories have legislation that requires specific child-related occupations such as teachers or childcare workers to be screened for criminal offences.
Non-government and private organisations may have policies that require their employees and volunteers to undergo criminal records screening. State and Territory police provide these to individuals and organisations wishing to obtain national police certificates for employment, voluntary work and occupation related licensing or registration purposes.
There are no national standards regarding police checks and clearances. Each State and Territory have their own procedures. It is necessary to fulfil the requirements in each State or Territory in which you are working.
The ACT government released a discussion paper for the creation of a screening scheme that stipulates minimum standards for broadly identified child-related occupations and activities. It was proposed that this could be the function of a Commissioner for Children and Young People as outlined in the Position Paper: For a proposed Australian Capital Territory Commissioner for Children and Young People from the ACT Chief Minister's Department, 2004. Criminal history check application forms are covered by the ACT Police Department.
At present there are no legal statutes that require people working with children to undergo a police check, although individual organisations may have their own policies in this regard.
The NSW Commission for Children and Young People is responsible for the Working with Children Check, which covers police checks. This checklist aims to create workplaces where children are safe and protected, and where the people who work with children are appropriately screened.
The Northern Territory Government has released draft legislation for the creation of a screening scheme that stipulates minimum standards for broadly identified child-related occupations and activities. The Police Department provides information on criminal history checks.
At present there are no legal statutes that require people working with children to undergo a police check, although individual organisations may have their own policies in this regard.
The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (Queensland) is responsible for the blue card (criminal history checks) for people wanting to commence employment or volunteer work with children, and covers police checks.
Obtaining criminal history reports is embedded in the Children's Protection Act (Section 8B). Further information is available at the South Australian Department for Families and Communities.
A National Police Certificate Application Form is available on the website of the South Australia Police Department.
The Commissioner for Children Tasmania released a consultation paper discussing proposals for the government to introduce policies and procedures for Tasmanian organisations to screen individuals who seek to work with children in a voluntary or paid capacity. Criminal history record checks are provided by the Tasmanian Police Department.
At present there are no legal statutes that require people working with children to undergo a police check, although individual organisations may have their own policies in this regard.
The Victorian Parliament has enacted the Working with Children Check to provide a screening process for individuals who seek to work with children in a voluntary or paid capacity. The new procedures are now in place. The Victoria Police provides a service to individuals and organisations in Victoria wishing to obtain national police certificates for employment, voluntary work and occupation related licensing or registration purposes. Criminal history record checks are provided by the Police Department.
A Working with Children Check is a new national criminal record check that is compulsory for people who carry out child-related work in Western Australia. Working with Children Checks are very different from a National Police Check conducted by the WA Police, which many employers may currently require of their employees or volunteers. An application form for a police check for volunteers is available from the National Police Check for Volunteers Program, which is part of the Department for Community Development.