The ACT government has named two new independent advisers to help administer background checks on anyone who comes into contact with children or other vulnerable people.
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Mandatory working with vulnerable approval is required for anyone employed or volunteering and is overseen by the ACT government's Commissioner for Fair Trading David Snowden.
The government has appointed Anita Phillips and Dennis Green as two new independent advisers for the scheme. Ms Phillips and Mr Green will serve until May 2018, alongside five other independent advisers who can be asked to provide advice on subjects including whether an applicant for the background check should be given a role-based registration, or any other aspect of a risk assessment for an individual.
At least one of the seven advisers to the Fair Trade Commissioner must include at least one representative of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities and a psychologist with experience or expertise in forensic or clinical psychology.
The scheme is also required to have one person with experience or expertise in: refugees and migrant issues; children and young people; people with a disability; people with mental illness and drug or alcohol dependency.
The final adviser position can be made up of someone with expertise or experience in any other field the commissioner considers relevant to working with vulnerable people background checks.
The commissioner is required to ask at least three of the independent advisers for advice under the scheme.
Since 2012, a centralised background check system has been administered by the ACT government, ensuring mandatory minimum background check standards apply across regulated activities, for both employees and volunteers. The government's Office for Regulatory Services administers the system.