Pre-employment screening: Working With Children Checks and Police Checks
Overview
This resource sheet provides an overview of the types of Working with Children Checks (WWCC) and Police Checks in Australia, their requirements and state/territory contact information. This resource is intended for employers, current and prospective employees and volunteers engaging in child-related work in Australia. It provides answers to common questions relating to pre-employment screening checks and provides state and territory requirements for working with children, including contact information for state/territory screening services.
The information provided is to be used as a guide only. Individuals are encouraged to check the currency of any information that is provided by contacting relevant departments or organisations. All enquiries about obtaining WWCCs and Police Checks should be made to the state or territory government department responsible.
Introduction
Each day, children across Australia come into contact with a variety of organisations such as schools, child care centres, hospitals, religious institutions, and sports and recreation clubs. Pre-employment screening for people seeking to engage in child-related work is one measure that contributes to ensuring the safety of children within these organisations. There is no single national framework setting out the requirements for obtaining Working with Children Checks (WWCC) or Police Checks. Instead, all states and territories have legislation providing for child-related employment pre-screening with requirements to be met.
Pre-employment screenings, such as WWCCs and Police Checks, screen for an individual’s criminal records and any reports on their professional conduct. They are designed to help ensure that the right people are chosen to work or volunteer with children. They aim to prevent people from working or volunteering with children if records indicate that they may pose a risk. Research has highlighted the advantages of having structured pre-employment screening processes in place (Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, 2016):
- By basing decisions on standardised points of reference, subjective decision making is minimised.
- The use of structured risk assessment approaches is more reliable and valid than the use of professional judgement alone.
- The assumptions on which the risk assessment models are based can be clearly set out and may be tested.
- Information can be dealt with transparently, and the person affected can put forward information as well as correct it.
- Public awareness of the use of structured risk assessment models may deter possible offenders.
Common questions
This section provides an overview of commonly asked questions relating to pre-employment screening checks for employers, current and prospective employees and volunteers engaging in child-related work in Australia.
- How do Police Checks and child safety screening programs work?
- Who must undergo pre-employment child safety screening?
- Are there other child safety requirements for my job?
- What is the difference between a Police Check and a Working with Children Check?
- Is my pre-employment screening transferable between jurisdictions?
- Is criminal history information shared between Australia and New Zealand?
- What are the limitations of pre-employment screening?
- What role do organisations have in protecting children?
How do Police Checks and child safety screening programs work?
In Australia, approved agencies are only able to check someone’s criminal history or any reports on their professional conduct if they have the informed consent of the individual involved. Police Checks carried out in each state and territory provide a nationwide screening of criminal history information. Throughout this resource, the terminology reflects the language used in each jurisdiction.
Most jurisdictions across Australia offer individual-based certification to engage in child-related work (NSW, NT, Qld, SA,1 Tas., Vic. and WA); while in the ACT, three types of screening clearance are offered (general, conditional and role-based). All these certifications are valid for a period of time (e.g. three years in WA) and may provide for ongoing monitoring of an individual’s suitability for child-related work. This means that if a relevant criminal offence is committed during the validity of the check, or if the individual is subject to relevant work-related disciplinary procedures, the administering authority may inform employers of the offence and alter or withdraw an individual’s entitlement to work with children. Individuals can carry their certification between positions (but not between jurisdictions – see ‘Is my pre-employment screening transferable between jurisdictions?’) and do not have to undergo repeated screening while their WWCC is valid. As of February 2021, all WWCC have continuous monitoring, where relevant new records can lead to the clearance being cancelled. It should be noted that the Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) scheme operating in ACT is not a registration, licensing or pre-employment screening regime. Due to this, employers should not use the WWVP registration in place of their own employment checks, such as Police Checks, to ensure employees are suitable for a particular role; and there are many roles that are not regulated activities and therefore do not require a WWVP registration.
Who must undergo pre-employment child safety screening?
As of June 2013, all jurisdictions in Australia have some form of child-related employment pre-screening legislation. These laws make it mandatory for certain individuals engaged in occupations such as education and child care, child protection, child and family welfare, health, entertainment and recreation, and religious instruction to meet screening requirements. There are differences across the states and territories about who is required to undergo screening and how different occupations are identified. If you are unsure whether you need to obtain a WWCC, contact the relevant body in your state or territory. State and territory contact details are provided in the following section, with a summary of requirements for each jurisdiction.
Are there other child safety requirements for my job?
In addition to child-related employment pre-screening legislation, all states and territories have legislation that requires people who wish to register in certain occupations (e.g. teachers, doctors or child care workers) to be screened for criminal offences. This means that even if child-related employment pre-screening legislation did not exist, there are still requirements for adults working in certain occupations to undergo screening (e.g. in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.); Medical Practitioners Registration Act 2001 (Qld); Child Care Act 2001 (Tas.)). Where professional registration requirements include screening, certain persons are exempt from the WWCC (e.g. in Victoria, persons registered under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006).
Organisations may also have developed their own policies that require employees and volunteers to undergo National Police Checks. State and territory police provide criminal history checks to individuals and organisations wishing to obtain Police Checks for employment, voluntary work and occupation-related licensing or registration purposes.
What is the difference between a Police Check and a Working with Children Check?
Police Checks identify and release relevant criminal history information relating to convictions, findings of guilt or pending court proceedings. However, due to spent conviction/non-disclosure legislation and information release policies, there are limitations on the information a Police Check can provide (e.g. the Spent Convictions Scheme stipulates that prior convictions are not to be disclosed where 10 years have passed from the date of the conviction).
Working with Children Checks are more extensive but also more targeted than Police Checks, as the purpose of a WWCC is to make an assessment of the level of risk an individual poses to children’s safety. For example, WWCCs draw together information from various sources but may include a primary focus on certain types of offences (e.g. sexual offences, offences related to the harm or mistreatment of a child). In general, WWCCs give consideration to:
- convictions – whether or not they are considered spent or were committed by a juvenile
- apprehended violence orders and other orders, prohibitions or reporting obligations
- charges (i.e. where a conviction has not been recorded because, e.g., a proceeding has not been heard or finalised by a court, or where charges have been dismissed or withdrawn)
- relevant allegations or police investigations involving the individual
- relevant employment proceedings and disciplinary information from professional organisations (e.g. organisations associated with teachers, child care service providers, foster carers and health practitioners).
Is my pre-employment screening transferable between jurisdictions?
Working with Children Checks and Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) checks are not transferable between states and territories. Organisations or individuals that work or volunteer with children across state or territory boundaries need to ensure that they have obtained appropriate clearance checks and screenings for each separate jurisdiction. A nationally consistent approach to pre-employment screenings was highlighted as a priority under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020. However, the 2015 Royal Commission report noted that progress in achieving greater consistency across jurisdictions has been ‘slow and inadequate’ due to disagreements over implementation and entrenched local practices and definitions (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015, p. 47).
A WWCC Working Group has been formed to inform the national alignment. They have noted that a national approach to legislation will not necessarily protect all children and that such screening practices and processes must sit in a broader organisational environment determined to ensure the safety of children (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, 2011).
Exemptions for visitors: In 2012, state and territory governments agreed on a standard exemption that allows people to work interstate for a brief period of time; namely, up to 30 days in a 12-month period, without obtaining a WWCC in the new location (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015).
Is criminal history information shared between Australia and New Zealand?
In February 2015, Australia and New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to give employers greater trans-Tasman access to individual criminal history checks for employment, training and registration purposes. Under the MoU, eligible New Zealand agencies have the ability to make requests through New Zealand Police for Australian criminal information from the Australian Crime Commission. Similarly, eligible Australian agencies may request criminal history information from New Zealand Police.
As with existing criminal-record checking arrangements, approved agencies are only able to check someone’s criminal history if they have the informed consent of the individual involved.
What are the limitations of pre-employment screening?
Policy and legislation that provide for the pre-employment screening of adults who work or volunteer in child-related organisations are important for creating and maintaining child-safe organisations. However, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has found the schemes operating in Australia to be inconsistent and complex. The Royal Commission report highlights several issues including inadequate information sharing and monitoring of WWCCs across jurisdictions; the non-transferability of WWCCs across jurisdictions; and the inability of screening agencies to access WWCC decisions in other jurisdictions (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015).
In the 2016 South Australian Royal Commission report The Life They Deserve, Commissioner Nyland highlighted that pre-employment screening is not intended to be a fail-safe measure in its own right: ‘gaining clearance does not mean that a person has been deemed safe or suitable to work with children – it simply means there is no available history to suggest they pose a threat’ (Child Protection Systems Royal Commission, 2016, p. 537).
What role do organisations have in protecting children?
Organisations play an important role in protecting children, beyond adhering to pre-employment screening regulations. WWCCs and Police Checks should be implemented in conjunction with other measures to minimise the risk to children’s safety. These additional measures may include pre-employment interviews, thorough reference checks, policy development for child-safe environments, and robust accountability frameworks for responding to allegations.
In 2019, the Australian Human Rights Commission released the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations in response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Commonwealth of Australia, 2017). These principles are considered fundamental in making an organisation safe and are intended to ensure a nationally consistent approach for all organisations that work or come into contact with children. All organisations working with or coming into contact with children are encouraged to become a child safe organisation (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018). (For more information on child safe organisations and links to resources for organisations, see the CFCA short article: Child safe organisations: Information for organisations on how to keep children safe .) WWCCs and Police Checks should be implemented in conjunction with these principles.
In 2020, the Australian National Office for Child Safety released the second edition of the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework. This framework sets out minimum standards for Commonwealth entities to create and maintain behaviours and practices that are safe for children. The framework includes four key requirements and guidance for implementation: conducting an annual risk assessment and mitigation; training and compliance with the framework and relevant legislation (including with WWCC/WWVP legislation); adopting and implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations; and publishing an annual statement of compliance.
1 Note: An employer-driven system previously operated in SA. On 1 July 2019, a Working with Children Check was introduced in SA.
State and territory requirements
Across the six jurisdictions that carry out WWCCs (NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic., and WA) and the two that carry out WWVP checks (ACT and Tas.), there are differences in what information is considered and what sources of information are used. This section provides an overview for each jurisdiction of the types of screening programs that are in place, what records are checked, and who is required to undergo screening.
Australian Capital Territory | |
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Legislation | Working With Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 (ACT) |
Screening check name | Working with Vulnerable People registration |
Valid for? | 5 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | People aged 16 years and over who have more than incidental contact with vulnerable people while engaging in regulated activities and services |
What services or sectors need to register? | Child protection; justice facilities for children; child care; child education; child accommodation; counselling and support for children; commercial services for children; mental health; migrant/refugee/asylum seekers; homeless; housing and accommodation; justice facilities; prevention of crime; victims of crime; addictions; community; disability; respite care; emergency; transport; coaching and tuition, vocational and educational training; religious organisations; clubs associations and movements. From 1 February 2021, any person who is working or volunteering in an NDIS activity must be registered under the WWVP. |
Information considered? |
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Registration outcomes |
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Worker and employer obligations |
Organisations should keep a record of registration details for each worker and set reminders for registration expiry to ensure workers do not continue to work without a valid WWVP registration. |
Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for making their own application. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | Yes |
Where to apply? | National Police Check Australian Federal Police Ph: (02) 6140 6502 |
New South Wales | |
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Legislation | Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW) Child Protection (Working with Children) Regulation 2013 (NSW) Child Protection (Working with Children) Amendment (Statutory Review) Act 2018 (NSW) |
Screening check name | Working with Children Check (WWCC) |
Valid for? | 5 years Renew your check |
Who is required to obtain a check? | All employees and volunteers over the age of 18 working in child-related roles, where contact with children is a usual part of the work, and not just incidental |
Exemptions | Employers should check the legislation for any exemptions that apply to their situation. Details of whether a check is required are available on the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) website. Exemptions include:
There are three specific instances when close relatives do need a Check when they are volunteering at school or activities:
The OCG has the discretion to grant a ‘continuing residence approval’ to a person who turns 18 while residing with an authorised carer and has been refused a WWCC clearance. The OCG must be satisfied that an appropriate risk mitigation plan is in place. The approval will allow the person to continue residing with the authorised carer in that placement. |
What services or sectors need to register? | Child development, mentoring or counselling services; child protection; children’s health services, including in wards of hospitals where children are treated; clubs, associations, movements or other bodies (including cultural, recreational or of a sporting nature) providing programs or services for children; respite care or other support services for children with a disability; early education and child care services, including nanny services; education services such as provided by schools and other education institutions, including private coaching or tuition of children; sporting, cultural or other entertainment venues used primarily by children and entertainment services for children; detention centres and juvenile correctional centres; any religious organisation; residential services including refuges used by children, long-term home stays, boarding houses and overnight camps; transport services for children, including school bus services and taxi services used for children with disabilities; supervision of school road crossings; school cleaners; and youth workers. In addition, the following child-related roles are defined as child-related work: an approved provider or manager of education and care services; a certified supervisor of education and care services; an authorised carer (foster carers and other authorised carers of children in statutory and supported out-of-home care); an assessment officer; the Principal Officer of a designated agency; and the Principal Officer of an accredited adoption service provider. Prospective adoptive parents and adults who reside for longer than three weeks at the home of an authorised carer, family day care service providers or home-based education and care service providers also require a WWCC. |
Information considered? | The Act outlines the type of records that require further assessment (see Schedule 1 of the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012) or will result in an automatic bar (see Schedule 2). Information considered in these Schedules includes:
Factors that are considered during a risk assessment include:
Additionally, reasonable person and public interest tests have been introduced in NSW. This means that a WWCC cannot be granted unless the OCG is satisfied that:
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Worker and employer obligations |
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Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for their own application for certification. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | Yes |
Where to apply? | Working with Children Check Office of the Children’s Guardian Ph: (02) 8219 3777 Email enquiry form |
Northern Territory | |
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Legislation | Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT) |
Screening check name | Working with Children Clearance, through the application for an ‘Ochre Card’ |
Valid for? | 2 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | Employees and volunteers in child-related employment settings over the age of 14 |
Exemptions |
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What services or sectors need to register? | Child protection services; education or care services; education facilities for children; juvenile detention centres; refuges or other residential facilities used by children; wards of hospitals or any other facilities for health services in which children are ordinarily patients; clubs, associations or movements (including those that are of a cultural, recreational or sporting nature) with significant child membership or involvement, religious organisations, babysitting or childminding services, fostering of children, transportation of children, private tuition, counselling, overnight camps, road crossing services for school children, sports coaching or sports lessons for children, accommodation services for children in private residential premises. Other services that provide activities for children including gym/play facilities, photography, talent/beauty competitions, entertainment or party services. In addition, members of boards, management committees and partners in businesses that perform work with children (e.g. members of school councils or basketball associations); or a student conducting practical training for an education or training course. |
Information considered? | National Police history is considered initially, and any relevant offences investigated further. Other information can also be considered, including employment disciplinary records, matters not yet finalised at Court, character references and submissions from you or professionals who are working with you. |
Worker and employer obligations | Employers or volunteer coordinators are responsible for making sure their relevant employees or volunteers have a valid WWCC and for maintaining records that show compliance with the WWCC scheme. |
Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for their own application and clearance. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | The risk assessment involves a National Police history check. |
Where to apply? | Working with Children Check Northern Territory Government Ph: 1800 72 33 68 Email: [email protected] |
How to apply? | Applications can be made online, in person or by post. Application forms are available on the Northern Territory Government website, at any Northern Territory police station or from Territory Business Centres in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs. |
Queensland | |
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Legislation | Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld) |
Screening check name | Working with Children Check, known as a ‘Blue Card’ |
Valid for? | 3 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | Individuals engaged in child-related occupations and individuals over 18 years volunteering for more than 7 days in a calendar year |
Exemptions |
Check the Queensland government ‘Do you need a blue card?’ website for a full list of exemptions. |
What services or sectors need to register? | Residential facilities; child accommodation services funded by the Commonwealth or under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006; school boarding facilities; schools; child care; education and care services; churches, clubs and associations involving children; health, counselling and support services that come into contact with children; disability work, private teaching, coaching or tutoring; education programs conducted outside of school; child accommodation services including home stays; religious representatives; sport and active recreation activities directed towards or mainly involving children; emergency services cadet program; school crossing supervisors; and the care of children under the Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld) |
Information considered? |
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Worker and employer obligations | Individuals must report any changes to police information. Work cannot be initiated prior to the Blue Card being issued and if the card expires, work cannot continue until the card is renewed. Employers must link Blue Card holders to their organisation upon hiring, and update employee information when they leave the organisation. Employers and businesses providing child-related services must have a child and youth risk management strategy in place (Chapter 8, Part 3, Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld)). The Blue Card Services website provides information about what an organisation’s risk management strategy should contain, as well as training on organisational risk management. |
Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for their own application for certification. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | Yes |
Where to apply? | Working with Children Check Blue Card Services Freecall: 1800 113 611 | Ph: (07) 3211 6999 Send email enquiry |
South Australia | |
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Legislation | Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA), Children’s Protection Law Reform (Transitional Arrangements and Related Amendments) Act 2017 (SA) and Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Regulations 2019 (SA) |
Screening check name | Working with Children Check |
Valid for? | 5 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | Individuals aged 14 years and over who currently do:
Individuals who run businesses where their employees or volunteers do child-related work also require a WWCC. *Child-related work includes:
Legislatively, all persons holding prescribed positions*. A prescribed position includes a position in which a person works with children, or in which it is reasonably foreseeable that they will work with children during the ordinary course of their duties, or a position under the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Regulations 2019. |
Exemptions |
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What services or sectors need to register? | Child-related work includes:
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Information considered? |
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Continuous monitoring? | Yes |
Worker and employer obligations | Employers must not employ or continue to employ a person in a prescribed position unless they verify that their employee has had a SA WWCC conducted within the previous/every 5 years. Employees must not work with children unless they have had a SA WWCC conducted within the previous 5 years. Employers and persons holding WWCCs are required to inform the Screening Unit of prescribed information. |
Who applies? | The WWCC can be initiated by the person who requires the check or by an organisation on behalf of the employee or volunteer. Note: An employer-driven system previously operated in SA. SA organisations can still initiate a WWCC on behalf of an individual but the individual is required to complete the application. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | Depends on the employee’s employment contract requirements. |
For more information | |
Where to apply? | DHSS Screening Unit |
Tasmania | |
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Legislation | Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Act 2013 (Tas.) |
Screening check name | Working With Vulnerable People check |
Valid for? | 5 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | Individuals aged 16 years of age and over who work or volunteer with children under 18 years of age and have more than incidental contact with children |
Exemptions |
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What services or sectors need to register? | Child education (government and non-government schools) including teachers, vocational education and training, state library, adoption, guardianship, child protection, child accommodation, child mentoring, child health, child disability, youth justice, child transport, child care, child-related religious activity, clubs or associations, coaching or tuition, legal practitioners, child-related commercial services including sporting, cultural and other entertainment venues. For examples of roles where registration is likely, visit the Consumer, Building and Occupational Services website. |
Information considered? |
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Types of registration issued? | From 1 February 2021, registrations include a National Disability Insurance Scheme endorsement if nominated. An applicant is required to nominate whether the NDIS endorsement is required for their registration, and their employment will then be verified with the NDIS prior to their application progressing further. Paid roles will require an Employment registration and unpaid roles require a Volunteer registration. There are five categories of registration:
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Worker and employer obligations | Changes to criminal history must be self-reported by individuals registered. Employers are required to check the status of employees and volunteers online before they start working or volunteering at the organisation and also check organisation details have been added to the employee/volunteer’s registration. Employers are now required to, within 10 working days after an employee or volunteer commences or ceases to be engaged in a regulated activity for that employer, notify the Registrar of the commencement or cessation of work. This can be achieved through the employer portal that is linked on the Working with Vulnerable People Check Tasmania website. |
Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for their own application for certification. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | Yes – A national criminal history check forms part of the application. Individuals are not required to supply this – this will be requested via the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) when application for registration is made. |
Where to apply? | Working with Vulnerable People Registration National Police Check |
Victoria | |
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Legislation | Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic.) |
Screening check name | Working with Children Check |
Valid for? | 5 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | All individuals engaged in ‘child-related work’ as defined by the Worker Screening Act 2020 (the Act) require a WWC Check if they meet all of the following five conditions of ‘child-related work’:
In addition to the child-related work requirements, all ministers of religion are required to obtain a WWC Check unless their contact with children is only occasional contact that is incidental to their work or their congregation does not contain any children. Further, all kinship carers are required to obtain a WWC Check. Under the Child Employment Act 2003 (Vic.) supervisors of children in employment are required to hold a WWC Check even if they are under 18 years of age. |
Exemptions |
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What services or sectors need to register? | Child-related work means work at or for the following services, bodies, and places:
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Information considered? |
From 10 December 2019, the Act limits the appeal rights of the adults charged with or found guilty of the most serious offences. |
Types of registration issued? | Volunteer or Employee Check |
Worker and employer obligations | It is an offence under the Act for a person to engage another person in child-related work if that person does not have a valid WWC Clearance Check. It is also an offence for a holder of a WWC exclusion to apply for child-related work and to engage in child-related work without a WWC Check. Organisations should check the status of the employee or volunteer’s application online and know when they are due to expire. |
Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for their own application for certification. |
Do I also need a Police Check? | A WWC Check includes a National Police Check so a person does not need to undertake their own police record check. Organisations wanting to screen for offences such as fraud will need to conduct a separate police record check. |
Where to apply? | Working with Children Check Victoria National Police Check |
Western Australia | |
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Legislation | Working With Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (WA) |
Screening check name | Working with Children Check |
Valid for? | 3 years |
Who is required to obtain a check? | Individuals who are engaged or proposed to be engaged in child-related work as defined in section 6 of the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (the Act). |
Exemptions | If a person’s work is covered by an exemption, then they are not in child-related work and are ineligible to apply for a WWCC in Western Australia (WA).
Other category specific exemptions apply – refer to the Working with Children Check WA website. |
What services or sectors need to register? | Employees and volunteers in the following settings: child care services; community kindergartens; educational institutions for children; coaching or private tuition services; arrangements for the accommodation or care of children, a placement arrangement or secure care arrangement under the Children and Community Services Act 2004; the performance by an officer, as defined in the Children and Community Services Act 2004; a detention centre, as defined in the Young Offenders Act 1994; community child health services; counselling or other support services; religious organisations; a club, association or movement; wards of public or private hospitals in which children are ordinarily patients; babysitting or child-minding services; overnight camps; transport services specifically for children; school crossing services; children’s entertainment or party services. |
Information considered? | Information that is obtained as part of a WWCC includes, but is not limited to:
and
In certain circumstances, criminal history information relating to charges and/or convictions for overseas offences may also be obtained. A relevant conviction or charge is the trigger for assessment - once an assessment is triggered any information that is relevant to whether a child may be exposed to a risk of harm can be considered, this is not limited to only criminal conduct. |
Worker and employer obligations | Worker responsibilities include but are not limited to (abbreviated):
Employer/organisation responsibilities include but are not limited to (abbreviated):
*A list of Class 1 offences can be found on the WWC Check WA website. |
Who applies? | Individuals are responsible for lodging their own application with parts of the application form to be completed by the employer/organisation (unless self-employed). |
Do I also need a Police Check? | The WWCC includes a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. Individuals are not required to supply this to the screening unit. Organisations may want to know if individuals have any offences, for example for theft or fraud, and may therefore additionally request a National Police Certificate. |
Where to apply? | Working with Children Check National Police Check |
Conclusion
Screening helps to prevent people with a known history of violent and abusive behaviour from gaining access to children through organisations, employment or volunteering. However, screening alone is not sufficient (e.g. it is limited to identifying known perpetrators) and needs to be coupled with interviews, thorough reference checks, policy development for child-safe environments, and robust accountability frameworks for responding to allegations.
References
- Australian Human Rights Commission. (2018). National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Sydney: AHRC.
- Child Protection Systems Royal Commission. (2016). The life they deserve: Child Protection Systems Royal Commission report. Adelaide: Government of South Australia.
- Commonwealth of Australia. (2015). Working with Children Checks Report. Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
- Commonwealth of Australia. (2017). Making Institutions Child Safe Report. Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
- Commonwealth of Australia. (2020). Commonwealth Child Safe Framework (2nd edition). Canberra: National Office for Child Safety.
- Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. (2011). Position paper: Toward a nationally consistent approach to Working with Children Checks. Canberra: Department of Social Services. Retrieved from www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/publications-articles/a-nationally-consistent-approach-to-working-with-children-checks-2011
This resource sheet was updated by Anagha Joshi, Senior Research Officer with the Child Family Community Australia information exchange at the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Western Australia data was updated separately from other states on 4 July 2022.
The feature image is by Josh Blair, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.