Requirements for Police Vetting of Persons in the Home.

The Education Amendment Act 2010 has changed the requirements contained in the Education Act 1989 (“the Act”) around Police vetting in schools and ECE services for non-teaching employees, contractors and their employees, and adult members of households where home-based education and care services are provided. 

•  Every person over 17 years of age who lives in a home where a licensed home-based education and care service operates will need to be vetted.
• The Police vet must be obtained before staff and contractors have, or are likely to have, unsupervised access to students or children. 
• It is the employer’s obligation to make the application for the Police vet. The Police vet must be requested by the board or management of the school or ECE service.
• A Police vet obtained by a previous employer or supplied by the person concerned cannot be used to satisfy the requirement of the Act.
• The changes to Police vetting requirements take place from 20 May 2010.  For any staff that must be vetted, but have not been vetted in the last three years, schools and ECE services will have a 4 week period (commencing 20 May 2010 plus 4 weeks) to apply for a Police vet.

For further information or a copy of the circular see www.minedu.govt.nz/Circulars