Thousands of Canberrans who work with children have undergone mandatory background checks and the ACT government is urging more people to undergo vetting before a November deadline.
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Anglicare community worker Ann Ponsonby already has a "working with vulnerable people'' card that will become compulsory for people who come into contact with children in regulated activities or services.
The checks are compulsory not just for paid employees of organisations but for all people who volunteer in child care and child education services, justice facilities for children, child protection, child accommodation, counselling and support services for children and commercial services for children. The ACT Office of Regulatory Services has processed 18,500 working-with-vulnerable-people applications and still has another 9000 to assess.
Joy Burch, the ACT Minister for Children and Young People, urged people who worked with children to apply for background checks as soon as possible.
The working-with-vulnerable-people system includes background checking and risk-assessment checks to reduce the incidence of sexual, physical, emotional or financial harm or neglect of vulnerable people.
"The ACT was the first jurisdiction in the country to introduce a screening system for all people working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults and the take-up of this landmark legislation has been impressive," Ms Burch said. "Through the Office of Regulatory Services we are working as quickly as possible to process all applications and thank everyone for taking part in this significant measure to protect some of our most vulnerable people.''
The checks are progressively being made compulsory in several sectors.
Next year the checks will apply to people working with homeless people, victims of crime, community services, disability services, respite care services and religious organisations.
"These checks are mandatory in the ACT so it is imperative that those people who need to register in year one apply as soon as possible and those who will be affected in the second year of operation make themselves aware of this legislation,'' Ms Burch said.
The background checks cost $71 for paid employees but are free for volunteers.
By 2018, they will be compulsory for an even bigger number of volunteers and workers.
In 2015, they will become necessary for people working in or with coaching and tuition, vocational and educational training, clubs, associations and movement, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
In 2017, registration will be required for people working in housing and accommodation, prevention of crime, emergency services and transport.
The following year they will become compulsory for mental health, justice facility and addiction service workers and volunteers.
More information on working with vulnerable people checks can be found at ors.act.gov.au
