6Principal officers and other staff of approved agencies

6 Principal officers and other staff of approved agencies

(1)  Subject to subregulation (2) , a principal officer must be a person who –

(a) is resident in Tasmania; and

(b) is employed full-time or substantially full-time; and

(c) has a tertiary degree or its equivalent in social work, psychology, counselling or another relevant field; and

(d) in the opinion of the Secretary, has training and experience in adoption administration and practice, or the ability to acquire that training and experience, to enable that person to satisfactorily carry out the duties of a principal officer.

(2)  The Secretary, in writing, may authorize an approved agency to appoint a principal officer on a part-time basis for a period specified by the Secretary if the Secretary is satisfied that the approved agency will be able to function effectively during that period.

(3)  An approved agency must employ, in addition to the principal officer, at least one person who has –

(a) not less than 2 years' experience in adoption practice; or

(b) a tertiary degree or its equivalent in social work, psychology, counselling or other relevant field.

(4)  A person employed by an approved agency for the purposes referred to in regulation 4(f) , who is not a person referred to in subregulation (1) or (3) , is to have –

(a) not less than 2 years' experience in adoption practice; or

(b) a tertiary degree or its equivalent in social work, psychology, counselling or other relevant field.

(5)  If the Secretary is of the opinion that an approved agency has insufficient staff with the qualifications specified in subregulations (3) and (4)  –

(a) the Secretary must notify the principal officer of the approved agency of that opinion; and

(b) the principal officer must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the approved agency employs sufficient staff who have those qualifications.