'Risks' in WA working with children checks
More than 50 people deemed unsuitable to work with children in Western Australia were allowed to for a combined total of 14,192 days while their applications were assessed last financial year, an audit has revealed.
Auditor General Caroline Spencer said in a report tabled in parliament on Wednesday the Department of Communities' management of working with children checks had improved since a 2014 audit.
But in 2018-19, it took an average of more than 200 days to issue negative notices to 53 people who had not previously been handed an interim negative notice, which would have prevented them working with children during the assessment process.
Only 20 per cent of people refused a card were issued with an interim negative notice.
"Communities needs to more effectively mitigate the risk of unsuitable people working with children while their application is processed," Ms Spencer said.
The department said it was reviewing the screening process and had identified potential areas to reduce time frames.
