Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services Suzanne Orr has introduced vital changes to ACT worker screening laws to mutually recognise negative notices issued by other states and territories.

Amendments to the ACT’s Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 are part of a national effort to strengthen Working with Children Checks (WWCCs). These checks are a type of worker screening that allow people to work or volunteer in certain activities involving children.

Earlier this year, Attorneys-General from each state and territory agreed to urgently work towards implementing mutual recognition of negative WWCC decisions.

With this amendment, if a person is disqualified in another state or territory, they are automatically ineligible from registering under ACT’s or any other state or territory Working with Vulnerable People scheme. A ‘banned in one, banned in all’ approach.

The ACT Government is continuing its review into the Working with Vulnerable People scheme and is dedicated to delivering strong protective framework which meet the needs of the Canberra community.

“Safety is a key priority for the ACT Government. Today we have introduced laws which make significant progress in working with all jurisdictions to provide stronger protections for our community,” said Minister Orr.

“These changes to our worker screening laws demonstrate decisive action that will improve the safety of children across Australia. Allowing us to work with other states and territories as part of an integrated system that enables the sharing of negative notices.

“The amendments to the Working with Vulnerable People Act bring the ACT into greater alignment with WWCC laws in other states and territories. This will prevent people who have been disqualified in another State or Territory from being able to work with vulnerable people in Canberra, creating further safeguards to keep children and young people safe.”

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