The Liberal Government will provide a significant subsidy to volunteers to reduce the cost of new working with children requirements legislated under the previous Labor-Green Government.
Legislation introducing stronger protections for children and vulnerable Tasmanians which passed through Parliament in 2013 will come into effect on July 1.
The new requirements provide for compulsory police checks as well as background risk assessments for people who work closely with children. Similar registration processes exist in all other States and Territories.
The Government has decided to provide a subsidy to reduce fees for volunteers applying for Working with Children registration by more than 75 per cent from a full cost recovery price.
The application fee for volunteers will be $17.76 and for employees working with children $103.60. The registration is valid for 3 years. Without the Government subsidy, the cost to volunteers would be $75.
Thanks to the subsidy, the cost to volunteers will be less than the $45 previously charged by most sport and recreation bodies for a Police Check.
This subsidy will allow thousands of volunteers around the state who work with children to continue doing their terrific work.
We understand that any new fee is a cost to employees and volunteers, but I am sure everyone who works with children will be supportive of introducing these stronger protections.
Until now, there has not been a legal requirement for people working with children in Tasmania to undertake any police or background checks.
The new requirements aim to reduce the incidence of sexual, physical, psychological, emotional or financial harm or neglect of children in Tasmania.
The Working with Children registration will be rolled out progressively between July 1 2014 and the end of 2016. The first activity requiring registration is people working or volunteering in Child Care Services, but it will be progressively extended to cover people working with other categories of vulnerable people such as those in aged care facilities.
Information about the Working with Children requirements is available on the Justice website http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children
Vanessa Goodwin, Minister for Justice
