If you are a registered child sex offender (registered by ANCOR) and are currently working alongside or having contact with a child employee (under 18 years), or are planning to engage in such work, you need to be aware of the recent changes to the definition of child-related work.
The Child Sex Offenders Registration (Child-Related Work) Amendment Act 2024 (‘the Amendment Act’) will commence on 1 July 2025. The Amendment Act expands the definition of ‘child-related work’ in the Child Sex Offenders Registration Act 2006 (‘the CSORA’) to include work involving contact with a child in connection with a business in which children are employed.
The important information here is that the definition of working with children now includes “any work involving contact with a child employee”.
Examples include fast food and retail outlets.
Whilst the amendments prohibit you from engaging in the new category of child-related work, you will have the opportunity to seek an exemption.
Note: If any registrable offence was committed in connection with child-related work then you will not be eligible for an exemption.
The Amendment Act provides a ‘grace period’ for registered offenders who are already employed in businesses that employ children when the legislation commences. If you are in this situation you will have six months to gain an exemption (up to 31 December 2025), during which time you may continue working in your existing job, so long as you inform your employer and SAPOL of your intention to seek an exemption within 30 days.
Complete a PD664A and forward it to ANCOR via email at sapol.ancor@police.sa.gov.au together with a summary of work undertaken and details of the contact with children, for example, safety plans and psychological reports. The more detail provided the better the chance of exemption being granted.
Contact sapol.ancor@police.sa.gov.au