Mr Masters questions the appropriateness of requiring police clearances and extensive documentation from volunteers at the Busselton Butter Factory for a school visit. The Education Department clarifies its excursion policy, stating such requirements are unnecessary when school staff can adequately supervise the visit.

AnsweredQoN 786Legislative Assembly
Asked
8 August 2001
Member
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

(1) In response to a request from a Perth Government Primary School to visit the Busselton Butter Factory, a heritage site managed by volunteers from the Busselton Historical Society, is it appropriate for the school to request police clearances for any or all of the 20 volunteers (with an average age of more than 70 years) so that the school can meet its claimed duty of care responsibilities?
(2) Does the Education Departments Excursion Policy require police clearances for people in this situation, as well as requiring the Butter Factory to provide copies of registration of business name, certificate of public liability insurance and the site’s emergency response plan?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
28 August 2001
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
20 days
2. The Department's excursion policy requires police clearances, copies of registration of business name, certificate of public liability insurance and the sites emergency response plan where external providers or contractors are to be used if the school is unable to meet the requirements of supervision or qualified supervision of children on an excursion. An example of this would be where a contractor is used to conduct a program such as a weekend abseiling course for students, where the school has no staff with appropriate competencies to conduct the course. The requirements are not appropriate to a programmed visit to the Bussselton Butter Factory by students as the school's teaching staff is able to meet the requirements of supervision or qualified supervision for such a visit.
An example of this would be where a contractor is used to conduct a program such as a weekend abseiling course for students, where the school has no staff with appropriate competencies to conduct the course. The requirements are not appropriate to a programmed visit to the Bussselton Butter Factory by students as the school's teaching staff is able to meet the requirements of supervision or qualified supervision for such a visit.
The requirements are not appropriate to a programmed visit to the Bussselton Butter Factory by students as the school's teaching staff is able to meet the requirements of supervision or qualified supervision for such a visit.

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