Public Submissions on Working with Children Checks

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
September 5, 2013

http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/public-submissions-on-working-with-children-checks/

The Royal Commission’s first issues paper on Working With Children Checks has attracted 55 submissions from around Australia so far.

A Working With Children Check is a pre-employment screening process to determine a person’s suitability to work with children.

Chief Executive Officer, Janette Dines, said the Royal Commission was pleased with the response.

“Some common views were expressed,” said Ms Dines:

They include:

the need for national consistency in the operation of the Working With Children Check

the need for more research to determine what elements of existing schemes are most effective; and

the need to consider the Working with Children Check as only one element in a broader framework for protecting children.

The Royal Commission is still seeking submissions on its third issues paper dealing with the creation of child-safe institutions. A fourth issues paper on preventing the sexual abuse of children in out-of-home care will be released next week.