Victoria: Test scheme to nab paedophiles

More than 20 children`s organisations have agreed to a system of police checks and audits to help weed out paedophiles. The checks form part of a six-month pilot accreditation program to start in Victoria this month. Dave Glazebrook, manager of Youth Assist Visy Centre – one of the organisations to agree to the checks – said the lack of regulation in youth welfare was frightening.

“Anybody can wake up in the morning and say, `I think I`ll call myself a child counsellor today`, he said. “They put up a shingle and suddenly they have very frightening access to young people, regardless of their background.”

The Australian Council for Children and Youth Organisations CEO Anton Hermann called the move by organisations for police checks a proactive step. “These organisations wanted to act to protect children in their care, rather than wait for the government to legislate,” he said.

Full story at http://www.crimenet.com.au/show_editorial.phtml?id=744