A SINGLE police check to cover all of South Australia’s volunteering processes would reduce red tape on both volunteers and organisations, Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell claims.
Mr Bell introduced a two-part motion in State Parliament on Wednesday, calling on the Marshall Government to implement a “one-card” system similar to the Queensland model, in operation since 2001.
Queensland’s Blue Card system, which is a portable card advising organisations an individual has had a screening check, is recognised as one of Australia’s most comprehensive screening frameworks.
The system includes live monitoring of volunteer records to protect vulnerable people from harm.
Mr Bell said South Australia’s current volunteer system needed an overhaul.
“We have around 900,000 plus volunteers in this state who are having to apply for multiple police checks to donate their time to community organisations because our system is not centralised,” he said.
“Yes, we need checks and controls to ensure the right people are selected for volunteering roles, but we should be making this process simpler for people, not harder.”
Five types of screening assessments are currently undertaken in South Australia, including working with children, disability services, vulnerable person employment, aged care and general employment probity.
Mr Bell said his office had fielded numerous complaints from local residents, who were having to complete police checks every time they volunteered for a new organisation, sometimes multiple times in one year.
“Members of my electorate are telling me the current process is making it harder for organisations to attract volunteers for events and fundraising,” he said.
“Studies show the two main barriers to volunteering are personal expense and red tape.
“The State Government has very wisely removed the volunteer screening fee in this year’s state budget, so that’s a win for volunteers and organisations, but the issue of red tape remains.
“Introducing a one-card system would mean one application process for volunteers to donate their time for any number of organisations across a three-year period.
“It would also serve as greater protection for our vulnerable people, including the elderly, disabled and children, if police information is monitored in real time, ensuring past, present and future risks are managed.”
Lakes Rotary Mount Gambier president Rodney Summers, who donates his time to six community and sporting organisations, including the Western Border Football League, Meals on Wheel and the Sunset Kitchen, supported a shift to a one-card system.
He said he had needed to apply for separate police checks for each organisation due to some not accepting another organisation’s check.
“I need a police check to deliver meals around town for Meals on Wheels, I need a national police check to volunteer for the Bendigo Bank and I need another one for the Sunset Kitchen,” he said.
“I believe police checks are important and should be done, but I would like to see a card similar to what they have in Queensland where you are covered for all events and places you work.
“One of the good things about the Sunset Kitchen is we are given a card issued by the Catholic Archdiocese that says we have a police check, so if anyone asks, we are able to show them that.”
Mr Summers said another challenge was screening spontaneous volunteers, particularly where organisations were already managing significant workloads.
“If I was on holidays in Adelaide and wanted to help out the Hutt Street kitchen, I would probably get knocked back if I did not have a police check on me,” he said.
“No way am I going to permanently carry around an A4 piece of paper in case I want to volunteer, but I would carry a card like a credit card.”
At the 2014 state election, the Liberals pledged to investigate simplifying the system, with then sports spokesperson Iain Evans highlighting the blue card system as providing more consistency to clubs.
Sports SA, which along with Volunteering SA/NT initially led the push for a streamlined process four years ago, had recently discussed the implementation of the one card system, chief executive Leah Cassidy said.
Ms Cassidy said discussions with interstate peak sports industry professional associations had found the Queensland model could ensure consistent screening checks across the board.
