Glossary

Allegation

A claim or assertion that someone has done something wrong or illegal. Allegations remain assertions without proof, until they can be proved.

Accreditation

Accreditation of courses ensures that the education and training leading to registration as a registered disability worker is rigorous and prepares the graduates to practise safely and competently. The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria can develop accreditation standards and approve programs of study.

Complainant

The person who reports a complaint.

Caution

A formal caution may be issued by the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria or an adjudication body. A caution is intended to act as a deterrent so that the disability worker does not repeat the conduct. A caution is not usually recorded on the public register of disability workers. However, the Board can require a caution to be recorded on the register.

Conditions

Conditions can be placed on a disability worker’s registration for disciplinary reasons, such as the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria or an adjudication body finding that a disability worker has departed from accepted professional standards.

Conditions can also be placed on a disability worker’s registration for reasons that are not disciplinary, such as for a disability worker who is returning to practice after a break.

Current conditions which restrict a disability worker’s practice will be published on the register of disability workers. When the Board or adjudication body decides the conditions are no longer required to ensure safe practice, they will be removed and no longer published.

Disability advocate

A person or organisation who acts with, or makes representation on behalf of, a person with disability to support that person, speak up for their rights, and influence policies and practices to promote fair treatment.

Disability service

The Act defines a disability service very broadly; however, the service must involve more than incidental contact with a person with disability or be a prescribed service. The service must be specifically provided to a person with disability for the principal purpose of caring for, or treating, the person or supporting the person to manage their limitations in undertaking one or more of the following activities:

• communication
• social or economic participation
• social interaction
• learning
• mobility
• self-care
• self-management.

Disability worker

Means a person who either directly provides a disability service to a person with disability or supervises or manages another person who directly provides a disability service to a person with disability.

Endorsement

An endorsement of registration recognises that a person has an extended scope of practice in a particular area because they hold a qualification relevant to the endorsement that is approved by the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria.

Immediate action

Relates to the ability of the Board to take immediate action, for example, to protect public health or safety and can include:

• the suspension, or imposition of a condition on, the registered disability worker’s or student’s registration
• accepting an undertaking from the registered disability worker or student
• accepting the surrender of the registered disability worker’s or student’s registration.

Impairment

The Act defines impairment as a loss or abnormality of structure or function of an intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory, psychological or physical nature, whether temporary or permanent. The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria may require that a disability worker or disability student undergo a health assessment to decide whether they have an impairment that detrimentally affects, or is likely to detrimentally affect, a registered disability worker’s capacity to practise as a disability worker or a student’s capacity to undertake supervised practise.

Mandatory notification

The Act places special responsibilities upon disability workers, their employers and education providers who have students enrolled in their programs of study to report concerns about certain forms of serious conduct to the Commission. These notifications are mandated by the Act and include allegations of:

• practising as a disability worker whilst intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
• engaging in sexual misconduct whilst practising as a disability worker
• placing, or potentially placing, the public at risk of harm because the disability worker has an impairment that detrimentally affects, or is likely to detrimentally affect their capacity to practise
• placed or placing, the public at risk of harm because the disability worker practised or is practising in a manner which significantly departs from accepted professional standards.

Prohibition order

Is a legally enforceable order issued by the Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner that bans an unregistered disability worker from providing all disability services, or specified services, either for a limited period of time or permanently.

Protected titles

In recognition of having met the standards required to become a registered disability worker, and to promote public confidence and trust in the professional registration system, it will be an offence to knowingly or recklessly take or use one of the following protected titles in a way that could reasonably be expected to induce a belief that the person is a registered disability worker:

• registered disability support worker
• registered disability practitioner.

Registration period

The period of time in which an individual may be granted registration, which cannot be longer than 12 months. The registration period is 1 October - 30 September.

Undertaking

The Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria can seek and accept an undertaking from a disability worker to limit their practice in some way, where appropriate, for example the registered if the disability worker's conduct in the course of practising as a disability worker, is or may be unsatisfactory. The undertaking means the disability worker agrees to do, or to not do, something in relation to providing disability services. Current undertakings which restrict a practitioner’s practice will be published on the register of disability workers. When the Board or adjudication body decides they are no longer necessary, they will be revoked and no longer published. An undertaking is voluntary, whereas a condition is imposed on a disability worker's registration.