All volunteers at WVSC require a WWVP card. If you intend to coach or manager a team please apply now.
Working with Vulnerable People – Information for Community Club Volunteers
Purpose of this Guide
This guide provides essential information for individuals who volunteer or wish to volunteer with a community club, particularly those involved in activities that include children or vulnerable individuals. The introduction of the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 in the ACT has brought new requirements for volunteers. This Act mandates that anyone working with vulnerable groups must undergo a background (criminal history) check and register with the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS), unless exempted. Compliance with this requirement is necessary as of 7 November 2013.
The guide outlines various scenarios where volunteers must be registered, situations where their activities may not require registration under the Act, and cases where registration requirements are less clear. In some instances, volunteers may adjust their roles or schedules to fall under exemption provisions. These scenarios are detailed below.
What it Means for Community Club Volunteers
For many community club volunteers, especially those not directly interacting with children, there will be no immediate change. The club’s existing policies and procedures to safeguard vulnerable people will remain in place until 7 November 2013, after which they will align with the new Act. Volunteers can continue supporting the club without needing to register under the Act, depending on the nature and frequency of their interactions with vulnerable individuals.
The Benefits of Volunteers in Community Clubs
Community clubs offer a supportive environment where individuals can engage in recreational and social activities. The club recognizes the valuable contributions made by volunteers in various roles, enhancing communication and engagement between the club and the community. Volunteers provide a broader resource base and help in enriching the club’s offerings, which benefits all participants.
Strengthening Protection for Vulnerable People
The purpose of the Working with Vulnerable People Act is to reduce harm, including sexual, physical, emotional, financial harm, or neglect, to vulnerable individuals. From 7 November 2013, all individuals, whether paid or unpaid, who work with children or vulnerable people in certain “regulated activities” must register with the ORS. This involves a comprehensive background check and risk assessment before a registration card is issued, valid for up to three years.
Key Aspects of the Act
The Act requires anyone over 16, including volunteers, who has contact with children or vulnerable people in specific situations, to be registered with the ORS unless exempted. After 7 November 2013, it will be an offense for a volunteer to engage in a regulated activity involving contact with children without a valid registration card. There is no fee for volunteers applying for registration.
For further details, visit the Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) page on the ORS website at www.ors.act.gov.au.
Information and instructions:
