These regulations, which come into force on 1 July 2019, amend the Education (Hostels) Regulations 2005 (the principal regulations).

The regulations amend regulation 61 of the principal regulations, which outlines the obligations of an owner of a hostel in relation to supervision and suitability checks of staff members and other people who have access to a hostel. They revoke subclause (2)(b) and replace subclause (2)(d) with new subclause (2)(d) and (da). The new paragraphs set out the safety check, suitability check, and supervision obligations of the owner of a hostel in relation to people employed or engaged by the hostel and other people respectively. The amendments in these regulations apply the safety check requirements in Part 3 of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 to every person employed or engaged by the hostel who meets the definition of a children’s worker under section 23 of that Act. They replace the current requirements for a rigorous suitability check for staff members who have regular access to a hostel or unsupervised contact with boarders and for substantial supervision of non-permanent staff members who visit a hostel occasionally.