Laws protecting children in ACT schools have been strengthened to clarify the obligations and responsibilities of people caring for the Territory’s students.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry said the amended ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 enhanced the robustness of the teacher registration process to protect child safety and welfare.
“This will require employers to provide more information about a teacher, including conduct and disciplinary action, to the Teacher Quality Institute before a teacher is registered,” Ms Berry said.
“Amendments to the Act also strengthen the requirements around Working with Vulnerable People registration as a condition of their teaching status, ensuring that teachers always maintain up-to-date registration if they wish to continue teaching.”
She said the Education Act had been amended to require non-Government schools to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“As part of the agreed Royal Commission recommendations, the Government will provide clarity on the criteria and conditions that non-Government schools must meet to be registered in the ACT,” Ms Berry said.
“The Government will also enhance the safety and protection of children by enabling better cross-jurisdictional sharing of information about children and young people experiencing or at risk of family violence.”
She said that if a child was unenrolled from school in the ACT and there were concerns for their wellbeing, the Education Directorate would confirm the move with the family and confirm enrolment in the new jurisdiction to make sure they stayed connected.
