Ross Smith presented us with details of changes to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005. These changes apply to all service clubs. He said we will no longer be able to rely solely on a Working With Children (WWC) check to determine if a person is a fit and proper person.
Some of the key messages were:
- Each Rotary club must have a policy which covers the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
- They must also have a Code of Conduct.
- There needs to be a screening process in place as part of reviewing a potential member.
- The club must respond to and report any abuse.
- Each club is autonomous - we need to establish our own rules.
- Doing nothing is not an option.
Ross posed a number of relevant questions:
- Should all current members have a WWC check?
- Should all new members have a WWC check?
- How do we reference check new members?
- How do we reference check volunteers?
- Who does the checking?
At the last Board meeting, it was agreed that the club should develop and maintain a document which incorporates both a policy and a Code of Conduct.
Click here to see a draft version of the document.
If you have any comments or proposed changes to the document, please forward them to President Ross Conley or Secretary Ross Smith by no later than Wednesday 27th September.