Independent review of the assessment process and practices associated with issuing Working with Children’s Cards.

An independent review of the assessment process and practices associated with issuing Working with Children Cards, managed by the Department of Communities. Specifically, the consultant will examine how applications from individuals with criminal history are considered. The relevant context for this review includes: risk of people working on receipt in child related work with a criminal history; and the Government prioritising implementation and oversight of Child Safe Organisations of which a key component is an effective Working with Children scheme. The review must consider and be guided by the current legal framework for decision making being the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004. In context of the WWC Act, the review is to provide information and advice on: The degree of discretion within the legislation and associated case law to issue an interim negative notice or a negative notice across all offence classes. The extent to which the Department of Communities policy and assessment practices are aligned with point 1. The ability to, and impact of, adopting an assessment approach that is more permissive in preferencing child safety in the issuing of interim negative notices and negative notices (within current legislative framework). In relation to this point: dedicated consideration to policy settings about family and domestic violence offenders, and other types of criminal offences concerning violence towards an adult;any unintended consequences of taking a more permissive approach, including for out of home care;any other key considerations agreed in review scoping.