Education and Child Development Department

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Has the minister reconsidered her department's employment conditions that require a driver's licence for a receptionist position or a job as a social worker at the Child Abuse Report Line call centre?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for the Public Sector) (15:02): While not wanting to comment on the particular case that has been raised publicly, which I believe is being looked at by the management in the department, it is the case that frequently social workers in the department are required to undertake a multitude of roles, including being able to go out and assist a child who is in difficulty and needs immediate assistance. In fact, we will recall that part of the Coroner's report related to the need to be able to be responsive to a call that comes in and he was critical of the arrangements that were in place then and we have improved those arrangements subsequently.

In general practice I can completely understand why that is a requirement for social workers employed in the Public Service. However, I accept that we must constantly be vigilant about discrimination that is unnecessary and I will make sure that that particular case is looked at appropriately to see whether there is any latitude that would be able to be extended in that circumstance.