WICEN Vic: Working with Children Checks

[Donald Fraser]

Folk,

Has though been given to the matter of WWC checks for WICEN companions?  On many occasions WICEN operators are accompanied by family members ( or friends) that in practical terms may have as much access to children at an event as do the WICEN operators.  These companions might attend regularly - or perhaps only once.
WWC checks for such folk would have a number of impracticalities  - lead time, not being registered volunteer etc.

Personally, I would hope that this is not deemed necessary.

Regards

[don:17/07/17]


From: wicenvic [mailto:wicenvic-bounces at vic.wicen.org.au] On Behalf Of John and Bronwyn Morrissey
Sent: Sunday, 16 July 2017 5:18 PM
To: 'Colin Pomroy' <colinpomroy at bigpond.com>; 'Maurie Stanford' <maurie.stanford at bigpond.com>; 'Chris Morley' <morleycs at gmail.com>; 'WICENVIC' <wicenvic at vic.wicen.org.au>
Subject: Re: WICEN Vic: Working with Children Checks

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<http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/about+the+check/purpose/changes+to+legislation>

Colin Pomroy
0417 305 702

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