Latest news with #RASWA
ABC News
06-08-2025
- ABC News
Perth Royal Show organisers won't reveal Working with Children Check rules after sex offender scandal
Perth Royal Show organisers are refusing to confirm if Working with Children Checks will be mandatory for exhibitors at this year's event, following revelations a convicted child sex offender was spotted there last year. Last year, the ABC revealed a convicted child sex offender was seen by his former victim's mother at a popular pavilion performing a demonstration for children. She called on show organisers to tighten their screening processes and implement Working With Children Checks (WWCC) for all workers and volunteers, including commercial exhibitors. Following the incident, the Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) pledged to work with WA Police and the Working with Children Screening Unit to review its practices. But now, less than two months out from this year's Perth Royal Show, RASWA has declined to say whether exhibitors will now be required to have the WWCC clearance, other than to say they are "fully compliant" with the relevant legislation. RASWA also told the ABC they were compliant with the legislation last year, when the paedophile was identified. A working with children check is compulsory in Western Australia for people engaging in child-related work. But it's not clear whether all exhibitors, workers and volunteers at the Perth Royal Show are captured by the current rules, although "children's entertainment" is defined as child-related work by the WA legislation. The convicted child sex offender working at last year's Perth Royal Show would not have been eligible for a WWCC clearance in WA due to the serious nature of his historical offending. In a statement, the RASWA told the ABC they had "implemented increased screening and background checks" this year, but declined to provide any detail on what this involved. RASWA said registered sex offenders were "prohibited" from working and volunteering at the show but again failed to detail how they would prevent this from happening. The organisation said it does require the WWC checks or national police clearance for people who work or volunteer directly for their organisation but failed to clarify, when asked directly, whether this policy also applied to commercial exhibitors who run stalls and demonstrations. RASWA said "background checks are just one strategy in place to ensure a safe and secure environment for all attendees". The statement said some of the details were "operationally and commercially sensitive" but they also deployed: The RASWA also declined a request for interview with the ABC. Adverts for some positions at the Royal Show seen by the ABC, including for ride operators, showbag sellers and Sideshow Alley attendants, state applicants must have no criminal history and be able to provide police clearance "if requested". The Perth Royal Show saw 438,000 attendees last year, with the state government providing free tickets to around 145,000 children under 15. The ABC approached the Agriculture and Child Protection ministers to ask whether they had been briefed on the outcome of RASWA's review into its screening processes. A state government spokeswoman said WWCCs were an "important tool to protect children" but only individuals engaging in child-related work as defined by the Working with Children (Screening) Act were required to hold the clearance. "The State Government supports efforts by the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia to strengthen its policies and procedures to ensure the safety of children remains the top priority," the statement said. "Organisations and individuals who allow or engage in child-related work without a valid WWC Check can face penalties of up to $60,000 and five years jail." The organisers' failure to provide more detail to parents comes amid heightened focus on the country's working with children screening process, after a man who had worked for about 20 childcare centres in Melbourne's south-west was charged with more than 70 child sex offences. A subsequent investigation by the ABC found that man held a Working with Children clearance, prompting Victoria to strengthen its laws around how the scheme is administered. Institute of Child Protection Studies director Professor Daryl Higgins said mandatory working with children checks were important and would "remove any doubt" at events involving families and potentially unaccompanied children. "[Royal agricultural shows] should have the same responsibilities as every kind of child-serving organisation in Australia," he said. "That means that all staff and all volunteers need to be appropriately screened, but also … inducted and kept accountable for supporting and following child-safe policies." Professor Higgins urged states and territories to adopt a nationally consistent Working With Children Check regime and to legislate child safety standards, part of the recommendations handed down by the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. "The important thing about legislating child-safe standards is that it makes it really clear who does need to have working with children checks," Professor Higgins said. "It applies to any organisation who is running services for children, and so it kind of takes that guesswork out of it." ACT for Kids, a support service for children and families who have experienced trauma, agrees WWCC should be mandatory for any adults who may have unsupervised contact with children. "I think it's important that employers and organisations take responsibility for kids' safety," executive director Tom McIntyre said. "One way of doing that is, as part of an employment arrangement … check the person's appropriateness to work with children, who are obviously vulnerable in those situations." Body Safety Australia, a national organisation providing training and education aimed at preventing child abuse in care and educational settings, says WWCC are only one mechanism to prevent harm and for organisations like Royal Shows, applying them could be complicated. "The question is … whose care is the child in? If the child is in the care of their parent or guardian whilst they're attending something, then the parent or guardian is responsible for the child in that space, chief executive Deanne Carson said. "But if the child is in a care of an entertainer or somebody who is working at a festival or a show, then absolutely that person should be properly vetted." She also called for all states and territories to mandate child-safe standards, outside of WWCC legislation. "I think when we look at big child events like royal shows across the country, we need to think about all of the ways that we can strengthen child safety in those spaces," Ms Carson said.
West Australian
10-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Former Royal Agricultural Society of WA president honoured with OAM in King's 2025 Birthday Honours
Recent Medal of the Order of Australia recipient David Thomas is humble about his recognition, saying he never expected to have been named in the national honours. The former president of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA said he was 'a bit taken aback' when he found out he had been awarded an OAM for his service to the WA community through a variety of organisations on June 9. 'Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would ever be put up for an OAM, or be nominated or receive one for that matter,' he said. He said since finding out about his award on Sunday night his phone has been flooded with texts and phone calls from well-wishers congratulating him. Mr Thomas said he did not know who nominated him, but said the nomination was 'humbling'. 'It's very humbling, and I must admit, it's an extreme honour,' he said. '. . . You think that you would never, ever be considered in that stream.' Mr Thomas was president of RASWA from July 2020 until 2023, when he handed the reigns to John Snowball. He has also served as Australian Special Air services Association WA president, Claremont RSL sub-branch president, Boer War Memorial Society of WA, Pilbara Community Legal Service board member, secretary, and vice-chairperson, Floreat and District National Seniors vice president, RSLWA board member, and Hollywood Private Hospital consumer council. Mr Thomas served 20 years in the Australian Army and about 10 years in the Special Air Service Regiment.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day set to host Young Farmers Competition for the first time
Agricultural young guns in the Perth Hills are gearing up to showcase their talent when the much-loved Young Farmers Competition is held at the Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day for the first time this Sunday, May 25. The competition will be held at 1pm, in the arena section at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds. Teams of four will battle it out in a high-energy, action-packed competition that would feature 'plenty of farmyard chaos', with four challenges that could include include hay bale rolls, wheelbarrow races, plank walking and fencing, among others. The winning team will quality for the Young Farmers State final at the Perth Royal Show and if successful there, go on to compete in the national Australian Young Farmers Challenge. About five Young Farmers Competitions will be held at WA agricultural shows or field days this year, with the help of youth-led organisation WA Next Generation, which is an independent sub-committee of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA. RASWA agricultural event support officer Chris Dewar said the NextGen Committee hand-picked the Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day because it was an 'ideal platform to promote and grow youth involvement in agriculture'. 'This event aims to encourage youth participation in agricultural communities, fostering a future where young people feel supported and empowered to get involved,' she said. Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day president Penny Morgan said it was a significant boost for the Field Day, which was now in its 18th year. 'We are thrilled to have such an event that ties in with the agriculture as well as encourages young farmers to show off their passions and skills, after all they hold the future of farming in their hands,' she said. 'It's great to have something targeted at the younger generation, and something to support and showcase locals.' Inspired by the Young Farmer Contest held in New Zealand since 1969, Young Farmer events have become increasingly popular across Australia, including in WA, and feature a series of challenges for mixed-gender teams. Mixed-gender teams of four take part in a series of surprise challenges that test their physical skill and theoretical knowledge of agriculture. As well as racing the clock, competitors lose points for any unsafe or sloppy behaviour and receive time penalties for anyone not cleaning up after their tasks or not doing the job properly. Young Farmers Challenges have been held at other agricultural events in WA for nearly a decade, including the Mingenew Midwest Expo, Dowerin Machinery Field Days, and the Wagin Woolorama, among others. Teams can register on the day, and it is open to teams of four people and must have at least one representative of each gender. The Young Farmers Challenge will be held at 1pm at the Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day on May 25, in the main arena.
