Suitability for Employment Checks

Overview

As part of the process for maintaining high standards of conduct and professionalism in the workplace, it is essential that principals or managers ensure that the Department's procedures for criminal record checks are implemented.

Verification of a satisfactory criminal record is achieved by ensuring the employment of new employees and engagement of volunteers proceeds in accordance with Department of Education and Training policy (for Victorian Public Servants), and legislative obligations pursuant to the Worker Screening Act 2020 (for school based non-teaching employees and volunteers), and to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 Part 2.6 Victorian Institute of Teaching (for principals and teachers).

The Department has developed procedures for the conduct of criminal records checks for all school based and non-school based employees, including arrangements that allow for the acceptance of the criminal records check conducted by the Victorian Institute of Teaching and Working with Children Checks to meet the Department's pre-employment suitability for employment requirements.

These procedures apply to:

• persons employed under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006
• persons employed under the Public Administration Act 2004
• volunteers
• casual employees including casual relief teachers
• student teachers and interns
• contractors
• homestay families.

Refer to the Policy and Guidelines tab for the full Suitability for Employment Policy.

Related policies

• Recruitment in Schools
• Working with Children and other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors

Relevant legislation

• Industrial Agreements
• Industrial Awards
• Legislation
• Ministerial Orders