Working with Children and Vulnerable People Checks: a necessary safety measure, but who should foot the bill?

With the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable population an increasing priority, it makes sense to ensure that those who work with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities undergo thorough background checks, but the process of obtaining these checks is less than ideal.

Working with Children Checks are also referred to as Blue Card Checks, Working with Vulnerable People Checks, DSCI Screening, and Ochre Cards, depending on which state you work in. States and territories manage these checks according to their local legislation, and as such screening requirements, contacts, and costs differ from state to state.

Job seekers and employers desperate for workers in these people-centric sectors find there are numerous barriers that need to be overcome for workers to obtain clearance before employers can confidently hire them.

The Cost Barrier

Depending on the workplace, employment arrangement, and/ or the type of engagement, the cost of these background checks is covered by either the Employer, The Worker or the Employment (Talent) Agency.

Typically, these costs are borne by the Employee, especially given that employees often work across multiple employers. Those looking for roles in childcare, aged care, disability support, or other sectors involving vulnerable people are hit with hefty fees for background checks. These costs vary dramatically from state to state, with checks at the more expensive end of the scale deeming them unattainable for some workers.

New South Wales
Working with Children Check
NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian
Valid for 5 years
Cost: $80.00

Queensland
Blue Card Check / Working with Children Check
Blue Card Services
Valid for 3 years
Cost: $101.30

Victoria
Working with Children Check
Department of Justice and Regulation, Working with Children Check Unit
Valid for 5 years
Cost: $128.20

South Australia
DCSI Screening / Working with Children Check
DCSI Screening Unit (Department for Communities and Social Inclusion)
Valid for 5 years
Cost: $114.00

Australian Capital Territory
Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) check
Background Screening Unit, Access Canberra
Valid for 5 years
Cost: $146.00

Tasmania
Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) / Working with Children Registration
Department of Justice
Valid for 5 years
Cost: $124.60

Western Australia
Working With Children Check
WWC Screening Unit (Department for Child Protection and Family Support)
Valid for 3 years
Cost: $87.00

Northern Territory
Working With Children Clearance / Ochre Card
Screening Assessment for Employment – Northern Territory (SAFE NT)
Valid for 2 years
Cost: $81.00

Expensive Renewals and Interstate Hurdles

If workers manage to scrape together funds for the initial check, it is not a one-off expense. The checks have an expiration date, between 2-5 years depending on the state in which they are issued. The checks are not transferrable between states, meaning a transient worker looking for employment opportunities around the country needs to pay for a new check each time they relocate to a new state. How many workers are being deterred from working in essential sectors due to this bureaucracy?

A Catch-22 for Employers and Employees

Employers in schools, aged care facilities, government programs, and employment services are often in desperate need of staff, yet they can’t hire workers without the necessary background checks. 20.2% of Australia’s working population is employed in the Education and Training, and Healthcare and Social Assistance industries. With potential employees deterred by financial barriers, a vicious cycle is created where the demand for workers remains high, but the supply is limited by the prohibitive costs of compliance.

Government Responsibility

If the government declares community safety and wellbeing a priority, why is the burden of ensuring this safety falling disproportionately on the shoulders of temporary workers and their employers? Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities have the right to learn, live, and stay safe. Yet, by placing financial barriers in front of those who seek to work with these population groups, we are failing to uphold these rights.

Surely the government should provide these background checks at no cost to Employers or Workers. Working with Children and Vulnerable People Checks are a fundamental aspect of ensuring public safety. By covering the costs of these checks, the government can level the playing field, ensuring equitable access to employment opportunities while safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our society.

Let’s ensure that everyone has the opportunity to work in sectors where their care and compassion are desperately needed.

References:

WWCC names and contacts https://www.australiannationalcharactercheck.com.au/working-with-children-checks.html

Industry data: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/jobs/jobs-australia/2020-21-financial-year#industry