WICEN Vic: Working with Children Checks

[Lachlan Ellis]

Dear All,

Given that the cost of almost zero apart from a little investment in time,
sounds like a good idea to me. I've had one for years!

Cheers,

Lachlan. (VK3LEL)

On Sun, Jul 16, 2017 at 5:17 PM, John and Bronwyn Morrissey <
jbmorrissey at netspace.net.au> wrote:

> Hi Col
>
>
>
> Yes, I was aware of the changes.
>
>
>
> The reason for the change was that there was a loophole – formerly,
> organisations dealing with children on a routine, repetitive basis only
> employed a supervisor with WWC, then others without WWC worked under the
> supervision of that person.  What the Govt discovered was that this still
> gave the opportunity for repeated contact with individual children and that
> some people had used this for grooming.  Hence – the loophole was closed.
>
>
>
> What is not so clear is:  what is the new threshold where WWC becomes
> mandatory, in the context of WICEN activity?
>
>
>
> For example when you go through the WWC list of occupations requiring WWC
> (here: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/about+the+check/who+
> needs+a+check/occupational+fields/occupational+fields ) there is the
> example : “Commercial photography services for children unless they are
> merely incidental to or in support of other business activities.“   There
> are other, similar examples where the contact is merely incidental to other
> activities.
>
>
>
> The website “who needs a check”   (here http://www.
> workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/about+the+check/who+needs+a+check/ )
> provides 6 criteria all of which must be met to require WWC, one of which
> is  “5. Your contact with children is part of your duties i.e. not
> incidental to your work”.  Whether WICEN activities require contact with
> children as part of their duties or it is merely incidental to the WICEN
> activity could be a matter of debate.
>
>
>
> For us, this does seem to be a grey area and it’s not an area I would like
> to test in court!
>
>
>
> For clubs, societies, WICEN, etc it is always an option to require all
> members to have WWC to undertake certain activities, over and above the
> legal requirements.  As an example the Scouts have always had more
> stringent requirements for WWC than the law required.
>
>
>
> My view is that WICEN should encourage all members to have WWC, and my
> understanding is that WICEN (as an incorporated volunteer organisation)
> should be able to sponsor those wishing to gain WWC.
>
>
>
> Personally, I have had WWC for many years and recommend all WICEN members
> obtaining one too.
>
>
>
>
>
> Cheers,   John
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Colin Pomroy [mailto:colinpomroy at bigpond.com]
> *Sent:* Sunday, 16 July 2017 1:19 PM
> *To:* 'John and Bronwyn Morrissey'; Maurie Stanford; Chris Morley; 'WICEN
> Victoria'
> *Subject:* Working with Children Checks
>
>
>
> I have looked at the changes to the WWCC legislation after another
> organisation I am involved with has decided that everyone needs to have the
> check.
>
> This is because at functions you may be in contact with children of not
> only the public but also of other members.
>
>
>
> Note that the exemption, if there is supervision of someone with the
> checks, has been removed.
>
>
>
> I see that this may be a problem if WICEN was deployed to a relief centre
> of similar or even at Training exercises like we have just done with the
> Mallee Rally.
>
>
>
> I feel this should be discussed at Committee level and a policy decided.
>
>
>
> The checks are free for volunteers and can be started online and then
> confirmed at a post office.
>
> Renewals are online.
>
>
>
> Details of the new legislation are available at:
>
>
>
> www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/about+the+check/
> purpose/changes+to+legislation
>
>
>
> Colin Pomroy
>
> 0417 305 702
>
>
>
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> wicenvic at vic.wicen.org.au
> http://vic.wicen.org.au/mailman/listinfo/wicenvic_vic.wicen.org.au
>
>
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