Who are vulnerable people in the ACT?

One of the key challenges in developing a background checking system is to indentify the groups that checking will aim to protect. The discussion paper proposes that ‘vulnerable people’ will include all children (people under the age of 18) as well as certain vulnerable adults. Advice received from key stakeholders during preliminary consultations has indicated that simply listing broad groupings of adults as ‘vulnerable’ would be considered patronising or offensive to some people in the ACT. An alternative option would be to link extant vulnerability with the receipt of social services that are associated with alleviating any disadvantage or vulnerability. Under this type of definition, adults would only be considered vulnerable upon the acceptance or use of such services. The following definition is proposed in the discussion paper: • “Vulnerable Adult” refers to people aged 18 or over that access services in the ACT, as defined under Regulations, to alleviate the effects of physical, social, financial and/or psychological disadvantage. The range of services that could be considered for inclusion is addressed in a separate question. Do you have any views on who should be considered vulnerable in the ACT community?