Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018

Overview

This bill implements a 'No Card, No Start' policy requiring all workers in child-related employment to hold a valid blue card before commencing work. It also modernises the blue card application process, creates a register to monitor home-based care services, and expands the list of offences that disqualify people from working with children.

Who it affects

People seeking work with children must now hold a blue card before starting employment. Employers cannot hire staff for child-related roles until they have a valid card. Home-based care providers and adults in their households face increased oversight.

Key changes

• Workers must hold a blue card before starting child-related employment - they can no longer work while an application is being processed
• People can now apply for a blue card without having a job offer first, making it easier to be job-ready
• A new register tracks foster carers, kinship carers, family day care educators and stand-alone care providers, giving agencies better visibility of home-based care
• Adult household members in homes providing stand-alone care must now hold a blue card
• Bestiality, kidnapping or abduction of a child, child stealing, and murder or rape of an adult are added as disqualifying offences
• People with negative notices or other 'high risk' status can no longer rely on exemptions to do child-related work
• Blue cards will include a photograph to reduce fraud
• Police officers and teachers must renew their exemptions every three years instead of holding them indefinitely