Communities and Social Inclusion Department Screening Unit

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Education and Child Development a question regarding the waiting period for child-related employment screenings.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Much has been said in the media of late of the increase in the backlog for screening as a result of the screening unit now being required to undertake relevant history checks, which we make no criticism of. But according to Peter Bull, executive director of the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, approximately 10,000 screening checks are being processed per month. Much has been said about a possible lack of staffing and resourcing of the unit as well in the media generally, and we have also heard reports of people waiting upwards of four months for clearances in some cases.

The Advertiser yesterday reported that classroom support and office staff in schools are being sent home on leave with pay as their screening checks have not yet been processed and they are not able to take their positions formally. Understandably, schools are very concerned with this development, as has been communicated to my office. Not only does this pose financial difficulties for them with respect to additional funding requirements to fill the temporary positions that become available, but obviously children are not receiving the continuity in their learning environment as well. I am informed that the education department has begun sending initial reminder notices to staff six months in advance of their clearance expiry, which may be a step in the right direction. My questions to the minister are:

1. What advice in relation to waiting times for clearances is given to staff in the initial reminder notices that are being sent out?

2. How many staffers are required to undertake multiple screenings within the prescribed three-year period?

3. What policy, if any, exists regarding multiple screenings of the relevant staff?

4. What steps are the minister and the government taking to ensure valuable classroom support and office workers are processed and cleared as expeditiously as possible?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and his ongoing interest in this area. I undertake to take his question about time relating to employment screening checks to the Minister for Education and Child Development in the other place and seek a response on his behalf.