The Federal Government has announced a national system to track the criminal history of people who hold Working With Children Checks (WWCCs).
State and territory Attorneys General signed off on the national agreement on WWCCs in Brisbane on Friday.
Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the reforms will target offenders exploiting “loopholes”.
“This is giving effect to ensuring that if you’re banned in one [state], you are banned in all”.
However, there is no deadline for states and territories to join the system.
Background
Currently, WWCCs are administered individually by states and territories.
There have been growing calls for a streamlined system following several recent child sexual abuse allegations.
In 2015, the Royal Commission intoChild Sexual Abuse recommended the Government “facilitate a national model for WWCCs”.
Child abuse support service Act for Kids said a system to track the criminal history of childcare workers was “well overdue, given it was recommended more than a decade ago”.
Details
In March, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) announced it would pilot a National Continuous Checking Capability (NCCC).
The NCCC provides continuous, real-time monitoring to alert if a WWCCs holder’s criminal history changes in any jurisdiction.
On Friday, the Federal Government committed to $37 million in funding for the NCCC.
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In August, the Attorneys General from each state and territory discussed national reforms to strengthen WWCCs.
Since this meeting, five states have passed laws that recognise mutual ‘negative notices’ in other jurisdictions.
This means if someone has their WWCC status revoked in one state or territory, it will apply in others.
Three more jurisdictions have committed to introducing the legislation by the end of the year.
Meeting
States and territories endorsed a National Agreement on WWCCs during a meeting with Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland in Brisbane on Friday.
The NCCC agreement will work to “remove the existing inconsistencies and gaps between jurisdictions and strengthen WWCCs nationally,” Rowland said.
Attorneys-General also agreed to “further priority actions,” including pathways to share information between states. A federal NCCC pilot will begin in the coming weeks.
Comments
The National Catholic Education Commission called the NCCC “landmark reform in child safety policy.”
Executive Director Jacinta Collins said she welcomes national mutual recognition of WWCCs.
Act for Kids said the reform is a “crucial step”.
However, it noted a deadline was“not yet set for jurisdictions to jointhe national system”. It urged “all states and territories to make this a priority.”
