Scouts Australia urges National Child Safety Checks

Following the current traumatic child abuse case in Victoria, Scouts Australia notes that “governments still have work to do, to ensure that all children are as safe as possible”.

Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia, Brendan Watson, says one area that needs tightening is the Working with Children Check.

Watson advises "the WWCC needs to be a national system. As people move from State to State due to work or family reasons, it is possible to be approved to work or volunteer in one State, and denied in another.

"Scouts Australia has more robust checks than many organisations – mandatory reporting since the 1940s, police checks and references since the 1960s, and currently, in addition to the State WWCC, all volunteers in Scouting need regular National Police Checks and to continually update their child protection training.

"Legislative frameworks differ across the country.

"We have found that a charge in one jurisdiction – even if it is dismissed – can prohibit an applicant from receiving a card there but not in another.

"There is little doubt that the protection of children would be enhanced if we had one national system with all jurisdictions' information being shared.

"Surely the protection of children and young people should be our highest priority?

"The scheme must become national to get consistent results."

Victoria Police are investigating allegations of sexual assault against children in a number of childcare centres across Melbourne.