Working with Children Check

• Adults who work or volunteer in child-related work need to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) in most cases.
• Child-related work may include working in hospital wards and medical practices where children are treated, and providing child health and mental health services.
• Check requirements with your employer as rules vary from state to state.

Working With Children Checks (WWCCs) are designed to ensure public environments in Australia are safe for children. Organisations that work directly with children must make sure workers and volunteers have the necessary screening checks, including WWCCs where required.

Generally, WWCC are required for adults who work in either paid or volunteer roles and who have more than incidental contact with children as part of their role. Checks may also be required for anyone who has access to sensitive personal information about children, including health records.

Individuals need to apply for and maintain their own WWCC, which may be valid for a period of 2-5 years.

A WWCC involves a National Police Check (criminal history record check) and a review of reportable workplace misconduct to identify issues that may pose a risk to child safety. The outcome of a check is either a clearance to work with children, or a prohibition from working with children.

Most jurisdictions have ongoing monitoring provisions, so a WWCC can be altered or withdrawn if the holder commits misconduct or an offence that may affect their suitability to work with children.

If you provide health services directly to children, including counselling or mental health services, you are likely to require a WWCC. Most states and territories require valid WWCCs for staff working in paediatric wards, or children’s health services, or providing healthcare in schools. You may also require a WWCC if you work in general hospital wards or medical practices where children are likely to be patients.

However, each state and territory defines child-related work differently, and has its own requirements and procedures for obtaining a WWCC. Doctors may not always need a WWCC if they occasionally treat children and those children are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

On the other hand, in some states, employers may require all employees to hold a WWCC, even those who fall within an exemption under the legislation. It is important to check with your employer or relevant body in your jurisdiction if you are unsure.

In most states, interstate workers will not need a local WWCC to work with children for short periods if they have an equivalent registration from their home state. Again, this varies so check with your employer or the local authority where you are working.

If you are moving interstate you may need to wait until you have moved, as in most cases you will need to apply from within the relevant state. This also varies so check with the authority in your new state.

Students may not need a WWCC for clinical placements. Again, requirements vary from state to state. In some states exemptions only apply to school students on work experience so check with your institution or placement organiser.

The relevant authorities check, and monitor, for offences or misconduct that may affect a WWCC holder’s suitability to work with children. They may consider a range of issues including sexual offences, offences involving violence, apprehended violence orders, drug and alcohol offences. Lapsed or withdrawn charges may also be considered and authorities may seek access to interstate records as well as records from other countries where information sharing agreements apply.

Some jurisdictions also require employers and/or WWCC holders to notify the authority of offences that may affect suitability to hold a WWCC.

If a WWCC is declined or cancelled you will receive a notice detailing why the decision has been made, what it means and your rights.

There are procedures in place for appealing decisions to cancel a WWCC or decline an application. For further information please see the requirements in your state or territory.

New applications

You may be able to work while your application is being assessed as long as you have an application number from the relevant authority. This varies between jurisdictions. It may also depend on your employer’s policies.

Cancellation

If your WWCC is cancelled, you will be prevented from working with children for a period, generally five years. You must immediately stop any paid or volunteer work which requires you to hold a WWCC. It is a criminal offence to continue to do so.

The relevant authorities are required by law to notify any employer who has verified your application, or person reasonably believed to be engaging you in child-related work that you have been refused a WWCC.

Lapsed

If you fail to renew your WWCC before it expires, in most cases you must also stop working with children. Each state has different requirements for renewal, so it is important to check the expiry date on your WWCC. Most states have a process to alert you when your WWCC is due to expire, so ensure you keep your contact details up to date.

Australian Capital Territory 

Working with vulnerable people (WWVP) registration (act.gov.au)

Northern Territory

Working with children clearance: apply and renew | NT.GOV.AU

NSW

Working with Children Check | Office of the Children’s Guardian (nsw.gov.au)

Queensland

The blue card system explained | Your rights, crime and the law | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

Tasmania

Do I need to register to work with vulnerable people? (cbos.tas.gov.au)

Victoria

Home | Working with Children

Western Australia

Working with Children Check - Western Australia

South Australia

SA.GOV.AU - Working with Children Checks (www.sa.gov.au)

For medico-legal advice, please contact us on nca@avant.org.au or call 1800 128 268, 24/7 in emergencies.