group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018. 10 and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to provide that a person is engaged in child-related work if they are engaged in the work in any capacity and whether or not for reward. Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018. 11 State and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to provide that work that is undertaken under an arrangement for a personal or domestic purpose is not child-related, even if it would otherwise be so considered. Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children check schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018. 12 State and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to: define the following as child-related work: accommodation and residential services for children, including overnight excursions or stays Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children check schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working
findings of that did not result in a conviction being recorded charges, regardless of status or outcome, including: pending charges – that is, charges laid but not finalised charges disposed of by a or otherwise, other than by way of conviction (for example, withdrawn, set aside or dismissed) charges that led to acquittals or convictions that were quashed or otherwise over-turned on appeal for all offences, irrespective of whether or not they concern the person’s history as an adult or a child and/or relate to offences outside Australia. through the Australian Government chaired working group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018. 18 and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to require police services to provide screening agencies with records that meet the definition of criminal history records for working with children check purposes and any other available information relating to the circumstances of such offences. Accept This recommendation has been implemented through the Exchange of Criminal History Information for People Working with Children Intergovernmental Agreement. 19 State and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to: require that relevant disciplinary and/or misconduct information is checked for all working with children applicants include a standard definition of disciplinary and/or misconduct information that encompasses disciplinary action and/or findings of misconduct where the conduct was against, or involved, a child, irrespective of whether this information arises from reportable conduct schemes or other systems or bodies responsible for disciplinary or misconduct proceedings require the bodies responsible for the relevant disciplinary and/or misconduct information to notify their respective Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children check schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018.
21 State and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to specify that relevant criminal records for the purposes of recommendation 20(c) include but are not limited to the following: juvenile records and/or non-conviction charges for the offence categories specified in recommendation 20(b) sexual offences, regardless of whether the victim was a and including offences not already covered in recommendation 20(b) violent offences, including assaults, arson and other fire-related offences, regardless of whether the victim was a child and including offences not already covered in recommendation 20(b) welfare offences offences involving cruelty to animals drug offences. Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children check schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018. 22 The Commonwealth Government, through the Council of Australian Governments, or a relevant ministerial council, should take a lead role in identifying the specific criminal offences that fall within the categories specified in recommendations 20(b) and 21. Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working group. It is anticipated that the standards will be put to relevant State and Territory Ministers in 2018. 23 State and territory governments should amend their working with children check laws to specify that the criteria for assessing risks to children include: Accept in principle The Australian Government supports an approach that ensures greater national consistency of working with children check schemes and has adopted a leadership role to assist jurisdictions to progress nationally consistent standards. Significant progress has been made through the Australian Government chaired working