Working with Children Checks in Victoria: Changes to requirements

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Working with Children Checks in Victoria: Changes to requirements from 1 August 2017
Changes to the Working with Children Act 2005 (Victoria) will take effect from 1 August 2017.  The changes effect what is meant by “direct contact” with children.  The changes apply in Victoria only.
Currently, a Working with Children Check is required when there is unsupervised direct contact with one or more children when that contact is physical and/or face-to-face.  Under the new arrangements, direct contact with children refers to the following, regardless of supervision:
  • physical contact;or
  • face to face contact; or
  • contact by post or other written communication; or
  • contact by telephone or other oral communication; or
  • contact by email or other electronic communication.

The following two short information videos explain the changes to Working with Children Checks:

A Working with Children Check is not ordinarily required for direct contact with students of the University who might be under 18 years old when that contact occurs in a normal higher education teaching and learning context.  However, some universities in Victoria have decided to require all staff to have Working with Children Checks.

ACU is considering its position in relation to this in the context of the changes to the Working with Children Act 2005 as well as the introduction of Child Safe Standards and a Reportable Conduct Scheme which apply to universities in Victoria.

Provide your Working with Children Check to Human Resources

If you currently have or obtain a Working with Children Check in connection with your work at ACU, please ensure that you send a copy to Human Resources. Email HR@acu.edu.au

Other actions to safeguard children in the ACU community

Completing ACU's online module on Working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults is an important action that you can take to improve the safety and protection of children in our community. It contains four parts which can each be completed in around 30 minutes. You can access the module on the staff LEO site.

All ACU staff should also familiarise themselves the University’s Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures.

Further information

For further information about Working with Children Checks, ACU’s Policy and Procedures or the online module, contact Lisa Carroli, ACU’s National Child Protection Manager on ChildProtection@acu.edu.au or telephone 02 9739 2101 (Ext 2101).


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