TAFE Working with Child Check member update – January 2017 (PDF version)
In line with recent legislation, TAFE NSW employees who work with children, including minors under 18 years of age, must undergo a Working with Children Check. You must be in possession of this document by 31 March 2017.
The Working with Children Check costs $80. We appreciate this may cause financial hardship for you, particularly if you are only working part-year and having to stretch your salary to cover costs. If this is relevant for you, please let us know by contacting the member support centre on 1300 772679.
TAFE NSW has declined to pay for the Working with Children Check on behalf of its employees.
During negotiations for your Enterprise Agreement, the CPSU demanded TAFE NSW pay this cost for you – as every employer should. This was rejected due to the NSW Liberal Government’s policy. The CPSU continues to claim the employer should bear this cost and not the employees.
We are seeking legal advice as to whether we can challenge this decision of the NSW Government.
In the meantime, given that you do not have to have completed the check until 31 March 2017, we recommend that you delay doing so until at least until the end of February while we look into the matter on your behalf.
If you have already paid for the check, please keep your receipt.
We thank you for your patience during this process.
It is important that you continue to have a say and your voice is heard. You can support the work of the PSA/CPSU and your local delegates by joining the CPSU.
Please forward this to your colleagues so that they know what their rights are, and encourage them to JOIN THE CPSU.
