According to new guidelines released by the body overseeing Victorian Catholic schools, parents will be subject to a suite of new risk assessment protocols, which include a one-on-one interview.

Parents offering to help out with school camps, the canteen and library duty, will now be hauled into the principal's office for an interview and asked to provide proof of personal identity and professional qualifications.

Principals will conduct at least two referee checks, including with the volunteer's most recent employer, in addition to seeking a Working With Children Check, and information about the volunteer's prior experience working with children.

Background checks should be undertaken every 12 months, and any documents gathered must be retained for at least seven years, the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria's document advises.

"Guidelines for volunteers not only help to identify the most suitable people to volunteer to work with children, but also deter unsuitable people from applying to volunteer in Catholic schools," the guidelines state.

It comes as new laws introduced to State Parliament this week will require schools and churches to prove they took steps to protect children under their care – a change that will allow child abuse victims to sue for compensation more easily.

Tony Crosbie, principal of Sacred Heart Primary School in Newport, said parents were willing to accept the new policy after he explained the context for the rules in a series of information sessions.

"Initially, there was a little bit of, 'what do you mean, don't you trust us?' but once I went through the standards and outlined what the issues are, and what the potential concerns can be, the parents understood that we are looking to ensure the safety of the students."

Mr Crosbie said he preferred that volunteers have prior experience working with children, but admitted the screening process would occasionally come down to "gut feeling".

"If parents are willing to answer the questions and go through the process, they are clearly comfortable working with children and working in that environment. If someone said to me that they refused to fill the documents in, I simply wouldn't ask them to volunteer."

Education department spokesman Steve Tolley said principals should take a "proportionate approach" in vetting parent volunteers.

"For example, parents attending school camps or excursions may face more checks than a parent who is assisting as a classroom helper under the supervision of a teacher," he said.

The Catholic school protocols go a step further, advising principals to run checks on every volunteer with access to children.

Judy Crowe, Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president, said there were fears across the board that the new standards would deter parent volunteers – a "vital" support in the day-to-day running of schools.

"If there are more administrative requirements in employing someone or engaging someone in a voluntary capacity, of course it will be a limiting factor," she said.

Gail McHardy, executive officer of Parents Victoria, said schools wanting to keep their volunteers should ensure the protocols are communicated in a non-threatening way.

The Victorian Parliament beefed up rules on Working With Children Checks this week, making a check compulsory for any person involved in "child-related work" who communicates with children online, by telephone or post.

Stephen Elder, executive director at the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, said volunteers are "a valued and vital aspect of Catholic education".

The Catholic school checklist for principals recruiting volunteers:

Interview potential volunteer about child safety

Check proof of identity, qualifications, registration and working with children check

Contact at least two referees, including most recent employer and compile written record of each check

Verify volunteer's work history and history working with children