The register is a tool for practitioners and the public to ensure that those working in the sector are who they say they are and have a genuine qualification. This type of third party verification is common among professions that provide essential services to the community, for example, social workers, doctors, nurses and engineers.
Just prior to launching the register ACWA’s outgoing President Wendy Raine said ‘The new community workers’ register is a win for all. With over 500,000 unregistered community workers in the sector it is a useful tool for employees and employers, clients and their families and the public’.
‘Where else can the credentials of a community worker be so easily checked?’ said Mrs. Raine. ‘This is particularly important in the aged care industry or where community work practitioners work with vulnerable people’.
Mrs. Raine went on to say that the Board had not gone into the registration project lightly and before piloting the scheme had consulted extensively with members, employers and the unions. ‘We did not get any negative feedback’ she said. ‘This is all about transparency, quality of service and public safety’.
‘We want to thank all those who helped us in this endeavor, from the employer representatives who eagerly assisted in the consultation process to our patient IT partners for their technical assistance'.
Now that the official launch has taken place we look forward to keeping people updated as the project builds. We have begun contacting major employers throughout Australia to explain how the registration system will benefit them and we have focused on aged care providers in the first instance. The system requires the support of all those in the sector and we are more than satisfied with the response we have received so far.
The inclusiveness of the registration system will also be key to its success as a means of ensuring quality service and public confidence in Australia’s community workers. There are dozens of occupational titles community workers are employed under including aged care assessment officer, youth worker, child protection worker, parole officer, family counsellor, disability care worker, outreach worker and housing officer.
During development of the registration project it was also decided to invite Certificate III and IV qualified workers to place themselves on the register. Whilst not eligible for full membership they work with the same client groups and look for the same opportunities to improve their skills and develop their careers as other community workers. We hope that many will take on further education and remain in the sector.
Many members of the public and employer groups that participated in the consultation process identified the gap in public information where the credentials of a worker can be checked. Family members of older people felt this particularly strongly when considering that elderly patients who were receiving HACC services were, in their experience, inviting virtual strangers into their homes.
Many others said that with the advent of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a register would be a very useful tool when identifying qualified workers.
ACWA CEO, Sha Cordingley, also commented at the launch saying that ‘this is an historic moment for community workers; the register is very timely considering some of the disturbing allegations of unethical and criminal behaviour in the sector that have come to public notice over the past few months and weeks.’ She went on to say that ‘the register provides community workers with the opportunity to showcase their qualifications and industry experience whilst providing employers and service users with the type of information they need to make an informed choice about who they chose to employ’.
To learn more about how the register works please click here. To learn more about its development and benefits download the info sheet.
For media enquiries please contact:Sha Cordingley
03 96548287
sha@acwa.org.au
