With a sharp rise in notifications from non-government schools in 2023, the IEU urges members to keep up to date with child protection legislation and obligations.
In NSW and the ACT, child protection legislation, aided by the Reportable Conduct Scheme, aims to ensure the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and young people.
The scheme requires employers to investigate and report to relevant statutory bodies in NSW and the ACT on reportable conduct allegations and reportable convictions involving employees working in child-related employment.
Additionally, compliance-related background checks such as the Working With Children Check (WWCC) in NSW and Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration in the ACT is a requirement for people who work in child-related employment.
In NSW, the scheme and the WWCC are administered by the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), while in the ACT the scheme is administered by the ACT Ombudsman and WWVP registration by Access Canberra.
Committed to protecting children
The IEU is committed to child protection legislation as well as the Reportable Conduct Scheme and background checking requirements focused on the protection of children and young people in NSW and the ACT.
We are also mindful of protecting the welfare, reputation and careers of our members working in child-related employment.
As part of the union’s commitment to representing the industrial and professional interests of our members working in child-related employment in NSW and the ACT, we provide ongoing advice, support and representation to members who are the subject of: