150,000 SA working with children checks set to expire on June 30 and more than 2000 banned from working with children

Thousands of people have had their clearance to work or volunteer with children revoked after being caught committing serious offences.

More than 2000 people have been banned from working with children under a system picking up, in real time, when they commit offences like grooming, neglect or drug trafficking.

The number busted each year has soared from 270 to almost 750 over the past four years, and the vast majority are men.

It comes as the state government prepares for an avalanche of paperwork from July 1 when 150,000 working with children checks will come up for renewal over the next 12 months.

An extra 35 staff have been hired in the screening unit to cope with the expected demand but there are concerns some unsuitable people will fall through the cracks if there are delays in processing.

The government has asked MPs in parliament to approve exemptions in cases where someone applies for a screening to be renewed but the paperwork is not completed before the existing approval expires.

Almost 590,000 South Australians hold a working with children check to undertake paid work or volunteering in fields including teaching, tutoring, childcare, social work, health services, children’s entertainment and foster care.

Someone can be deemed to pose “an unacceptable risk” based on charges or convictions for a range of offences, and reports made to authorities, such as the child abuse report line, in SA or interstate.

SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros. Picture: Mark Brake

Data on the number of applications refused between July 2019 and the end of 2023 was provided by the Department for Human Services screening unit, following a Freedom of Information request by SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros.

Ms Bonaros said the “surge of refusals” from 273 in 2020 to 747 last year “highlights the importance of thorough background checks to safeguard our kids”.

“It also raises concerns about the prevalence of ineligible individuals attempting to gain clearance,” she said.

“Disturbingly we know this is occurring against a backdrop of a department that has been struggling to cope with demand because of renewals.

“We can’t risk a repeat of the past by allowing the wrong person to fall through the cracks and destroy innocent little lives.”

The real-time monitoring system was launched in July 2019 and approvals granted then were valid for five years.

Human Services Minister, Nat Cook. Picture: Matt Loxton

Human Services Minister Nat Cook said email and SMS reminder notices are being sent to about 150,000 people whose approval will expire on June 30.

Ms Cook said the option of “temporary exemptions” was “important to ensure we can keep providing services and supports to children”.

“In the vast majority of cases it is expected the exemption won’t be needed, but it may be for a matter of days or weeks in other cases,” she said.

Ms Cook added that anyone who is covered by an exemption will still be subject to real-time monitoring by authorities.