'Prohibited persons' declaration

Forms to hit schools next week

The Department of Education and Training advised the Federation on 17 August 2000 that they would be distributing Guidelines for the Distribution and Collection of Prohibited Employment Declarations for Current Employees in Schools and possibly Colleges next week.

The Department is required by the Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998 to ask all employees engaged in positions which primarily involve direct and unsupervised contact with children if they are a prohibited person. A prohibited person is a person convicted of committing a serious sex offence. The definition of a serious sexual offence is set out on the Declaration.

A Prohibited Employment Declaration Form will be issued to all current employees by the Principal. The School Staffing Unit will issue the form to casual school teachers. The completed form is to be returned to the Principal or District Superintendent by 8 September 2000.
Any queries concerning the Prohibited Employment Declaration process should be referred to the Department of Education and Training's Employment Screening Unit on (02) 9836 9200.
If a member believes that he or she may be a prohibited person he or she should call the Federation and indicate to the Communication Room staff that they have personal concerns relating to the Prohibited Persons Declaration. The Communication Room staff will then refer his/her name to the Federation Welfare Officers. The Welfare Officers will make appropriate arrangements for advice.

For further information