Victorian Numbered Acts

SOCIAL SERVICES REGULATION ACT 2021 (NO. 37 OF 2021) - SECT 8

The Regulator, in carrying out a function or power under this Act or any other Act, must—

        (a)     have regard to the paramount consideration, the protection of service users; and

        (b)     enforce compliance by registered social service providers with the Social Services Standards; and

        (c)     act in a transparent, accountable, efficient, effective and fair way; and

        (d)     make decisions using an intelligence-led and integrated approach that is proportionate to risk and minimises regulatory burden; and

        (e)     work collaboratively with other relevant agencies, service users, registered social service providers and the community to ensure the safe delivery of social services; and

        (f)     ensure that restrictions on registered social service providers or WCES workers or carers are only imposed to the extent necessary or desirable to achieve the Regulator's objects; and

        (g)     reduce regulatory burden, where appropriate, by—

              (i)     recognising compliance by registered social service providers with other regulatory schemes; and

              (ii)     aiming for consistent approaches to decision-making with other regulatory schemes; and

              (iii)     if possible, giving effect to prescribed decisions about WCES workers or carers made by other relevant regulatory entities; and

        (h)     liaise with other relevant agencies and regulatory entities to avoid, as far as possible, unnecessary duplication in the investigation of social service providers; and

              (i)     provide, where appropriate, social service providers with guidance and education regarding their duties and obligations under this Act and how social service providers may comply with those duties and obligations.