Working with Children Amendment (Ministers of Religion and Other Matters) Bill 2014

LEGISLATION UPDATE

Working with Children Amendment (Ministers of Religion and Other Matters) Bill 2014

The Working with Children Amendment (Ministers of Religion and Other Matters) Bill 2014 was passed in Parliament on 5 August 2014. The Bill will align the Working with Children Act 2005 with the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 section 10 which states that the best interests of the child must always be paramount.  The Bill stipulates that when the Secretary or VCAT makes a decision that the protection of children from sexual and physical harm must be the paramount consideration. Further, the Bill will:

• clarify the definition of child-related work
• improve the operation of the assessment notice process
• require ministers of religion who have contact with children have a working with children check
• clarify that the Working with Children Check is the minimum check in relation to people’s criminal history rather than a suitability check 
• clarify that appropriate assessment and monitoring is additional required to a Working with Children check by employers or organisation in regards to the person’s suitability to work with children