Volunteer Screening Checks

In reply to Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (25 September 2018). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services): The Department of Human Services has advised:

1. In 2018-19, it is projected that the DHS Screening Unit will receive approximately 170,000 screening applications. If the number of applications was 20% greater than the projected total, around 204,000 applications would be received. The corresponding budgetary increase would be approximately $600,000 based on revenue received from paid checks, and taking into account free screening for volunteers, costs for criminal history checks and salary costs.

2. During 2017-18, 35,392 completed screenings, just under a quarter of all screening applications (23%), were for volunteers. Based on the projected number of screening applications to be received in 2018-19 (170,000), and the percentage of volunteer applications in 2017-18 (23%), it is anticipated that the number of volunteer screenings in 2018-19 will be around 39,000.

The budget papers do not include the projected number of screening applications beyond 2018-19. It is anticipated that the screening framework will change in 2019-20, impacting who will need a screening check and resulting in projections being reset during the 2019 State Budget process.

3. Before 1 November 2018, volunteers were charged a reduced fee of $59.40 (GST inclusive) per screening application. If more than one type of screening was required, the reduced fee was applied, so long as the applications were submitted together. Based on the number of volunteer applications completed in 2017-18, and the mix of multiple screenings applied for by volunteers, the cost to abolish screening fees is calculated at $1.4 million (based on the GST exclusive fee of $54). The $1.4 million budget figure used projected costs and was based on assumed volumes and costs of screening applications derived from historical data.

4. The current mix of volunteer multiples and individual applications results in a cost of $1.4 million for free volunteer screening as provided in the budget. Following the commencement of the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016, sectors previously not required to undertake a DHS screening check will be phased in under transitional provisions. This includes people working and volunteering in the emergency services and sport and recreation sectors. These sectors will comprise volunteers. However, as these are new sectors and the regulations regarding the requirements are the subject of consultation, any costs associated with these new cohorts will be considered once these changes are introduced.