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Working with Children Act 2005: Operational Review

The Victorian Government has conducted more than 500,000 Working with Children (WWC) Checks since the system’s introduction in April, 2006, an initiative which the Victorian community has embraced. This scheme aims to prevent people who may pose a risk to the safety of children from working or volunteering with them. The overwhelming response from Victorians to the WWC Check proves they are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of the community, its children.

 

The WWC Check recently commenced the fourth year of a five year “phasing-in schedule” of occupational fields.  As committed by the Attorney-General when introducing the scheme, a review three years after commencement will be undertaken to ensure the scheme meets its aims of providing a safer community for children, while not overburdening those who will be required to comply with it. 

 

General feedback from the public and statistics indicate the Victorian community strongly supports the WWC Check and therefore significant changes to the scheme are not required. As a result, the review will focus on fine-tuning the operation of the Act through amendments of a largely procedural and administrative nature. 

 

Examples of possible reforms include:

• Establishing a streamlined renewal process
• Enhancing mechanisms that enable the department to complete the assessment process where information from a Check holder remains outstanding
• Streamlining process where one or more applications are received from the applicant 

 

Feedback is invited from members of the public and stakeholders interested in having an input into the specific proposals outlined above.  The Department welcomes your feedback, which can take the form of a letter or a more detailed document. 

 

Please indicate in what capacity you are providing feedback: as an individual or organisation.  If your feedback is on behalf of a representative group, please give a summary of the people and organisations that you represent. 

 

Your feedback is due by COB Monday 9 November 2009 and can be sent to:

 

Policy and Monitoring

Working with Children Check

Department of Justice

GPO Box 4349

MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Email submissions to: vsa@justice.vic.gov.au