Child Protection Screening

Mr DULUK (Davenport) (14:42): My question is also to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. My office has been approached by many teaching, nursing and speech pathology students who cannot enrol in the practical component of their course without obtaining DCSI and police screening. Often that screening is being delayed for many months. Will the minister direct her department to create a fast lane screening process for applicants whose interests will be disadvantaged if they do not receive a speedy clearance response?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:43): I thank the member for this question. I was aware of this concern and, as we have gone through streamlining and looking for efficiencies and barriers to more effective ways that we can screen, this is one of the areas that was raised. It is of great concern.

We have been working on communicating with the universities and also with DECD, which actually hosts many of these work experience students. We have an escalation group within screening; when they come to us, if the timing is important we make our best endeavours. What we are trying to do is to proactively work with the universities, knowing that these students will be looking to do work experience in the health system or the education system, and screen them before they start that work experience to make sure they are ready to go and that there are no delays in them having that work experience, which is fundamental to their degree.