From today, 1 November 2017, the Disability Worker Exclusion Scheme (DWES) has been expanded to include all disability services, including National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers registered under the Disability Act. Previously, the scheme only applied to disability residential services.

According to the Victorian Health and Human services website, the scheme is a State government's initiative, designed to further protect the safety and wellbeing of Victorians with disability who access disability services. It requires an additional safety screening check to prevent people who pose a threat to the health, safety or welfare of people with a disability from working in disability services in Victoria. 

The Disability Worker Exclusion Scheme applies to all disability workers and providers engaged in a disability service. It:

• provides for limited sharing of relevant information between a central unit of the Department of Human Services and disability residential service providers
• is consistent with other pre-employment screening processes, such as police checking, and
• generates a permanent Disability Worker Exclusion List detailing people who pose a threat to the health, safety or welfare of people with a disability living in disability residential services.

The scheme has been expanded as part of the government's response to the Parliamentary inquiry into abuse in disability services.

To read more about the scheme and download resources, go to the Victorian Health and Human services website.