The SDA welcomes today’s commitments of federal, state and territory Attorneys-General to commission urgent efforts to upgrade working with children checks.
On behalf of the half million children who work across the country, most of them in fast food, retail and hospitality, the SDA has been consulting Attorneys-General to require adults supervising under-18s to hold working with children checks.
Across the country, there are few – and sometimes no – requirements for adults working with children. The most recent survey by the Australian Human Rights Commission found that in the past five years 47 percent of workers aged between 15 and 17 had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
The SDA trusts that the agreement of the Attorneys-General to “strengthen and improve consistency for a national approach to wwccs” means action will be taken to improve the safety of under 18s at work.
Quotes from Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary the SDA:
“Parents might well be astonished to discover that there are few protections for their children working at the local takeaway.
“If it’s a requirement for the lollipop man at a school zebra crossing or the coach of a children’s footy or netball team to have a working with children check so it should be for adults working in fast food, retail and hospitality.
“Employers gain massive financial advantage from employing children at far lower rates of pay than adults.
“Ensuring they have working with children checks for their adult employees is a reasonable requirement.”
Contact: Jim Middleton 0418 627066