Our Position on the 'Person Responsible' Regulatory Requirement

Our position is that we agree that the person responsible requirement be retained.  The position of 'person responsible' (PR) assumes a level of skill, knowledge, and leadership quality, that cannot and should not be thrust on all staff who may include relievers and unqualified staff. 

Additionally, we argue that the original intent of the requirement that the person responsible be someone who is trained and qualified in the education and care of children 5 years and younger must be restored.

Note that the PR is responsible for the day-to-day education, care, comfort, health and safety of the children, and must supervise the children, and the adults providing education and care, at all times while children attend the service. Therefore the PR has a duty to ensure that regulatory requirements are met while children are present. The PR must ensure that no child leaves the service without an adult who is authorised to take the child.  No adults can take children on a trip/ excursion outside of the service grounds that does not have the approval of the PR.