The South Australian Government is committed to safeguarding children and young people in VET.
The Skilled. Thriving. Connected. policy outlines SA Government’s commitment to supporting learners to achieve their goals, and also to working with partner organisations to focus on inclusive and safe work practices.
The ‘Safeguarding children and young people’ policies of the Department for Education and the Department of Human Services recognise that individuals, organisations and SA Government Departments have particular obligations to safeguard children and young people to protect their safety and well-being.
Organisational requirements
To give effect to these policies, Skills SA requires any organisation delivering funded activities under the Funded Activities Agreement (including approved subcontractors) to understand and comply with all legal obligations relating particularly to the safety and well-being of children and young people. Relevant legal obligations include the need to:
- establish and maintain environments that are safe for children and young people, and
- ensure that all persons with access to children and children’s records have valid Working with Children Checks.
Compliance monitoring
With respect to any organisations delivering funded activities to students under the age of 18, Skills SA will perform regular compliance monitoring to ensure that:
- Organisations have appropriate policies and procedures in place to provide safe environments for children and young people; and
- Organisations have lodged a Child Safe Environments Compliance Statement with the Department of Human Services;
- Organisational staff and volunteers have a current and satisfactory Working with Children Check where required.
This policy does not diminish the responsibilities and obligations on staff and volunteers to safeguard all VET learners in departmental service settings, including those that may be over 18 with developmental vulnerabilities.