Push to vet disability workers

People applying for jobs in the disability sector would have to pass pre-employment checks under proposed new laws to protect people with disabilities from abuse and neglect.

The proposed legislation, to be introduced into State Parliament by the Opposition, would require job applicants to pass relevant background checks and hold a valid "clear card" while they were working in the sector.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the screening system would make sure people who had been convicted of abuse, violent crimes or other serious offences could not gain employment that involved caring for or supporting disabled people.

He said the changes included a formal reporting system for abuse and neglect that would bring WA into line with other States.

"Families of people with disabilities need to be sure their loved ones are in safe hands," Mr McGowan said.

Mark Delahoy, whose sons Ronan, 13, and Callum, 15, have autism and attend respite care often, said knowing that disability workers had the necessary qualifications and had been screened would give him peace of mind.

"Ronan doesn't have a voice - he doesn't communicate very well, he's not very verbal - so the concern is that he won't be able to tell us if there is something going on, or he will be distressed and we won't know why," Mr Delahoy said.

Disability Services Minster Helen Morton said a national disability services card was already under consideration, and WA was contributing to developing a National Quality and Safeguarding Framework that would ensure people with a disability received quality support, had their rights protected and were safe.

Mrs Morton said she had not received evidence of systemic abuse in the State's disability services sector.