Independent Liberal Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard is suggesting for WA state schools to be approved as ‘Voluntary Organisations’ as part of the initiative to alleviate the shortage of cross-walk attendants for schools in Alfred Cove.

“P&C Committees informed me that changes in recent years to the eligibility criteria for Centrelink payments may have impacted on the number of people who are available to offer their services as cross-walk attendants,” said Dr Woollard.

“Schools often recruit cross-walk attendants from people who are on Disability Support Pensions or Sole Parent Pensions. With the new criteria, many of them had to stop volunteering to seek part-time work elsewhere to fulfil the increase from 10 to 15 hours per week in order to keep their benefits.

“If schools are approved ‘Voluntary Organisations’, volunteers receiving Centrelink payments would be able to count their hours of service as part of the Mutual Obligation hours to retain eligibility for their benefits. This could help in the recruitment of new cross-walk attendants,” said Dr Woollard.

Dr Woollard was advised by the Federal Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, that while an in-principal agreement to a ‘blanket’ approval for all WA state schools as ‘Voluntary Organisations’ was reached in November 2007, Centrelink has yet to receive information they require to provide final approval.

Dr Woollard said the information required would allow Centrelink to assess if schools meet the criteria for a ‘Voluntary Organisation’ status. They include information regarding availability of supervision for volunteers and adequate public liability and personal accident insurance.

“The delay in providing the information to Centrelink means there could be schools which are already eligible but have not received official approval of the ‘Voluntary Organisation’ status. This prevents them from going out and recruiting volunteers,” said Dr Woollard.

“I have written to the Minister for Education to seek her support in providing the information sooner rather than later. I am waiting for her response.

“I have also informed the P&C Committees and principals of all WA state schools in Alfred Cove that they could seek to be formally approved as ‘Voluntary Organisations’.

“I am hopeful the approval would facilitate the retention and recruitment of people who are receiving Centrelink payments as cross-walk attendants and in other roles, such as canteen operators,” said Dr Woollard.