As of 1 July 2020, the Victorian Government will implement a new Disability Worker Regulation Scheme. This scheme is in place to allow for additional oversight measures to ensure that support workers deliver high quality support.
At present, the new scheme includes:
- A Code of Conduct (that all disability workers, including Hireup support workers, must comply with);
- A notifications process for reporting when a disability worker may be putting someone’s safety at risk; and
- An independent complaints process to handle complaints about individual disability workers.
The intention of the Victorian Government is to provide clear and consistent standards for all workers who provide disability services, as well as supporting the safety of people with disability.
Code of Conduct
Hireup support workers in Victoria currently need to comply with the Hireup Code of Conduct, the NDIS Code of Conduct, and the ‘Code of conduct for disability service workers’ set out by the Victorian Government.
Under the new scheme, the Victorian Code of Conduct will mirror the NDIS Code of Conduct, and will replace the previous Victorian ‘Code of conduct for disability service workers’.
That means from 1 July 2020, Hireup support workers in Victoria will follow a simplified set of rules: the Hireup Code of Conduct and the combined NDIS-Victorian Code of Conduct.
Notifications process
The Victorian Disability Worker Commission has been set up to oversee this scheme, which will work alongside the safety processes already operating within the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
From 1 July 2020, disability workers or employers can notify the Victorian Commission about disability workers who may be putting someone’s safety at risk.
Importantly, as a Hireup support worker in Victoria, if you believe that another disability worker isn’t complying with the code of conduct, you must inform the Victorian Commission.
Complaints service
From 1 July 2020 the Victorian Commission will also be able to action complaints about individual disability workers. They’ll be taking a rights-based approach to complaints in order to strongly uphold the rights of people with a disability.
Help from Hireup
Above all, we want to make sure everyone in the Hireup community stays safe.
If you have any questions, contact us at hello@hireup.com.au or on (02) 9113 5933.