Understanding our Working with Children obligations

Does your club participate in any of the following or similar Youth programs?
Programs organised and administered by District Committees and supported by Clubs
  • Rotary Youth Exchange [RYEP]
  • Rotary Youth Leadership Awards [RYLA]
  • Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment [RYPEN]
  • National Youth Science Forum [NYSF]
  • Siemens Science Experience, Engineering Schools [SSE]
  • Science & Engineering Challenge
  • Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)
  • Recognition of Youth Awards (ROYA)
  • Pacific Australia Cultural Exchange (PACE)
Programs organised and administered by other organisations and supported by Clubs
  • Youth Driver Awareness [RYDA]
  • Operation Hope (Wesley Mission Camps for disadvantaged children)
  • Youth Insearch (community-based organisation coordinating program focusing on resolving adolescent issues at a peer level)
Programs initiated by Clubs to meet the needs of young people in their local communities
  • Scholarships, bursaries and awards for school students
  • Inter-school debating competitions
  • 'My Mother - My Hero' Mother's Day Essay/ Poem for Primary School students
  • Homeless youth programs
  • Community Centres for Youth
  • Youth Forums, ARH High School Forums on Mental Health (Years 10 & 11)
  • Youth Art Shows, Drama Festivals and Showcases of Musical Talents
  • Leadership training for High School Student Representative Council members
  • Support for students with disabilities - wheelchairs, computers, social outings
If so, the following WWC obligations apply:
  • Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
  • Child protection (Working with Children) Regulation 2013
  • Children and Young People (care and Protection) Act 1998
  • Rotary Youth Protection Guide (2016)
These requirements are encapsulated in the draft “Child Protection Policy and Procedure Manual” available to clubs on the D9685 website. It is recommended that all clubs adopt this manual if they participate in any form of Youth Program.

To learn more

D9685 is taking a 3-phased approach to explaining how these obligations affect our District and Club Youth programs. It will be achieved as follows:
 
Phase 1           PETS 1 April 2017     
An overview of the relevant documents and their requirements to create an awareness for President’s – Elect so that they have a basis to manage the responses of their respective Clubs.
 
Phase 2           District Assembly 23 April 2017       
Club Board members and the Club Verification Officer should attend to hear a more detailed explanation about these important requirements and to receive guidance about their implementation.
 
Phase 3           FREE “Working with Children” workshop on 29 April 2017 in the District Office, Thornleigh, to expand on the DA.
A representative of the Office of the Children’s Guardian will be present and the primary objectives will be to:
  • Explain more about WWC and why it is an important matter; and
  • Participate in a Q&A session at which any misconceptions or misunderstandings that may exist will be addressed.
Suggested attendees would include:
  • 2017-2018 D9685 Directors responsible for Youth programs
  • Relevant 2017-2018 D9685 and Club Committee Chairs (e.g. RYE Program)
  • Club Verification Officers
  • Club Youth Service Directors
  • Club Presidents
  • Rotarians
 
WORKING WITH CHILDREN WORKSHOP ON 29 APRIL - Register HERE today!
Registrations close on 24 April.