AUSTRALIA: Background checks for people working with the vulnerable

.
CANBERRA / ABC News / August 26, 2010

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government's moving to extend background checks to people working with vulnerable adults, as well as children. It will table a bill today making the changes in the Legislative Assembly.

The Community Services Minister Joy Burch says elderly people and those with disabilities deserve full protection.

"This new process, this uniform checking system, really is so we're at the forefront of the nation, we think that is critical so all people who are vulnerable have the security and safety of knowing people working with them and working alongside them have been checked".

A peak welfare group has applauded the move. The director of the ACT Council of Social Service Roslyn Dundas agrees the existing laws need to be extended.

Background checks are proposed for people working with the elderly and disabled. (www.sxc.hu: Jorc Navarro)

"But it doesn't apply across all of organisations who work with children, especially those organisations who might work with children in recreational activities and the consistency across those areas of vulnerable adults just isn't there at the moment," she said.

© 2010 ABC