The state opposition says the government has forced school support workers out of classrooms.
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About 250 staff were told they could not continue their duties without a Working With Vulnerable People registration, which was required by September 1.
Labor education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said the government had failed to meet the deadline by not dedicating enough resources to the process.
“In August when the Teacher’s Registration Bill was debated in the Parliament, I clearly warned the Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff that the timeframe to have registrations in place by December was extremely tight,” she said.
“The government have known that this was coming for quite sometime … and we now have children who have worked with support staff who may not be there next week, that’s simply not okay.”
Ms O’Byrne said the situation should not have gotten to this point.
“[Mr Rockliff] assured Tasmanians that more resources had been allocated and the process would go smoothly.
“This has not happened.”
While the opposition says teachers have been “let down” by the government, an Education Department spokesman said the majority of the 5000 support staff working in the department had in fact successfully gained their registration.
“The department has continually communicated the importance of gaining registration and has been reminding support staff since the beginning of the year,” the spokesman said.
“Approximately 250 support staff who are yet to register have recently been contacted and advised that they will no longer be able to undertake their normal duties without registration. The department is now working with these staff, including further advice that they report to their workplace on Monday for assistance to undertake the registration process.
“The government makes no apologies for expecting those who work in our schools to have this important registration.”
The process to register teachers under the Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013 began in Tasmania in July 2014.
The process was planned as a three year “phased in” approach with each child related service allocated a timeframe in which to apply.
Teachers will now be required to hold the registration by January 1, bringing Tasmania in line with all other states and territories.