{"id":17127,"date":"2024-04-19T07:02:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T07:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/?p=17127"},"modified":"2025-07-08T11:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T01:16:04","slug":"pinnacle-people-blogworking-with-children-checks-are-holding-back-the-care-workforce-pinnacle-people-explores-the-hidden-cost-of-compliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/pinnacle-people-blogworking-with-children-checks-are-holding-back-the-care-workforce-pinnacle-people-explores-the-hidden-cost-of-compliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Working with Children Checks Are Holding Back the Care Workforce: Pinnacle People Restates Its Position"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve said it before, and we\u2019re saying it again\u2014the current system is broken.<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s outdated. It\u2019s inconsistent. It\u2019s expensive. And in light of the current horrific circumstances dominating national headlines, we\u2019re making our position absolutely clear:<\/span><\/p>\n

The system isn\u2019t doing enough to protect the people it’s designed to safeguard\u2014and it’s actively hurting our ability to build and sustain the essential workforce our country needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Australia is facing a critical shortage of talent in care-based industries\u2014aged care, education, disability support, and more. At Pinnacle People, we\u2019ve been on the frontlines of this workforce crisis for years, and we’ve been sounding the alarm just as long.<\/span><\/p>\n

One issue continues to hold us back: the Working with Children Check system.<\/span><\/p>\n

The System Is Failing Everyone<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s be clear: Working with Children and Vulnerable People Checks are essential. They are a non-negotiable part of building safe, responsible workplaces. But the current system is flawed\u2014and it\u2019s creating more harm than good for both employers and workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the reality:<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The cost of these checks can be up to $146 depending on the state or territory.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each state has its own system, meaning checks are not portable or recognised nationally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Employers often absorb the cost, only for candidates to leave or use the clearance elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

If employers don\u2019t cover the cost, they risk losing the candidate altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a no-win situation. It\u2019s putting unnecessary financial and operational strain on businesses like ours, and keeping willing, capable people out of critical frontline roles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Latest Headlines Reinforce the Need for Urgent Reform<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Recent coverage\u2014including remarks from federal ministers\u2014has confirmed what we in the industry already know: the system isn\u2019t working.<\/span><\/p>\n

Delays in reform. Fragmented state-by-state processes. A lack of real-time updates. These are serious concerns, not just for safety, but for the sustainability of Australia\u2019s care workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a staffing partner deeply embedded in this sector, Pinnacle People is calling time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State\/Territory<\/b><\/td>\nCheck Name<\/b><\/td>\nValid for<\/b><\/td>\nCost<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NSW<\/b><\/td>\nWorking with Children Check<\/b><\/td>\n5 years<\/b><\/td>\n$80.00<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
QLD<\/b><\/td>\nBlue Card<\/b><\/td>\n3 years<\/b><\/td>\n$101.30<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VIC<\/b><\/td>\nWorking with Children Check<\/b><\/td>\n5 years<\/b><\/td>\n$128.20<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SA<\/b><\/td>\nDCSI Screening<\/b><\/td>\n5 years<\/b><\/td>\n$114.00<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ACT<\/b><\/td>\nWWVP Registration<\/b><\/td>\n5 years<\/b><\/td>\n$146.00<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TAS<\/b><\/td>\nRWVP Registration<\/b><\/td>\n5 years<\/b><\/td>\n$124.60<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WA<\/b><\/td>\nWorking with Children Check<\/b><\/td>\n3 years<\/b><\/td>\n$87.00<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
NT<\/b><\/td>\nOchre Card<\/b><\/td>\n2 years<\/b><\/td>\n$81.00<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Multiply that by 10, 20, or 50 hires a year\u2014and then factor in the ones who don\u2019t stay. For some businesses, it’s enough to put the brakes on servicing the sectors altogether.<\/p>\n

Our Position Is Clear<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In light of current scrutiny and long-standing challenges, Pinnacle People is restating its position:<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd39<\/span> WWCC should be free.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

No one should be locked out of care-based work because they can\u2019t afford a check.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd39<\/span> WWCC should be national.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

One check. One system. Recognised across Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd39 <\/span>WWCC should be annual.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

For everyone\u2019s protection, checks should be updated every 12 months.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are ready to support this workforce. We are ready to grow it. But we need a system that matches the urgency and importance of the roles we\u2019re trying to fill.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s Break the Barrier\u2014Not the Workforce<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Pinnacle People support Australia\u2019s essential industries by recruiting, training, and deploying passionate, job-ready people every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

But we can\u2019t keep doing this while the compliance system fails, blocking candidates and employers, and failing to protect those it\u2019s meant to safeguard.<\/span><\/p>\n

If government wants a strong, safe, and sustainable care workforce, it must dismantle these outdated, ineffective compliance barriers.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Join the Conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve said it before, and we\u2019re saying it again\u2014the current system is broken. It\u2019s outdated. It\u2019s inconsistent. It\u2019s expensive. And in light of the current horrific circumstances dominating national headlines, we\u2019re making our position absolutely clear: The system isn\u2019t doing enough to protect the people it’s designed to safeguard\u2014and it’s actively hurting our ability to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":17897,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17127"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17871,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17127\/revisions\/17871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/17897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pinnaclepeople.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}