At a minimum, organisations must meet their legal obligations to ensure individuals are suitable for child-related work as determined under the Worker Screening Act 2020. If your organisation would like to have stricter rules in place, they have the right to add further regulations to internal HR policies at their own discretion, subject to other applicable laws.
Writing your own HR policy
As an employer, you may rely on our interactive tool to determine whether your worker needs a Check. However, you can also create your own HR policy as long as the minimum requirements under the Child Safe Standards, obligations under the Worker Screening Act 2020 and any other applicable laws have been met.
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Child Safe Standards
In line with your organisation’s legal obligations, you must also have sound practices in place to check a person’s job references and monitor employee behaviour around children in your care.
Organisations that provide services or facilities for children, or employ children to provide goods or services, whether paid or unpaid usually must comply with the Child Safe Standards (External link) that were introduced as part of the Victorian Government's response to the Betrayal of Trust Inquiry (External link) and have been recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (External link). These are compulsory minimum standards under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005. The standards help to keep children safe and protect them from harm and abuse.
Specific organisations must also comply with the reportable conduct scheme (External link) requirements that came into effect on 1 July 2017. For more information, visit the Commission for Children and Young People website (External link).
Legislation updates
Are you unsure whether your knowledge of the Check is up to date? Please read the legislation page to find out what’s new.