AICD submission on a national approach to worker screening in the care and support economy

Our submission was supportive of a well designed and implemented national approach to worker screening in the care economy, which has the potential to enhance productivity outcomes and improve care oversight.

We highlighted that the care economy is an increasing focus of the AICD’s work with our members involved across aged care, disability, early childhood education and care, and veterans’ care, especially within the NFP sector.

The key points in our submission were:

• The AICD supported the development of a single national check across the care economy (Option 2) as the preferred long-term solution.

• The AICD cautioned against imposing significant administrative burden and cost barriers on providers and workers, including people wanting to volunteer to support their local community (i.e. sports, schools etc).

• Whilst not the specific focus of this consultation, the AICD reiterates broader support for longer-term reforms to align quality and safety regulation of the care economy, as highlighted in our recent submission to the Productivity Commission.