Working With Children Check (WWCC) - NSW Only

Modified on Thu, 14 Sep 2023 at 10:52 AM

This article has been adapted from the NSW Government, Office of the Children's Guardian page, "Who Needs a Check"

The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a requirement for anyone in paid or volunteer child-related work in NSW. Employers and organisations must verify the WWCC details of anyone they engage in child-related work.

Important

The Check lasts for 5 years and undergoes continuous monitoring, even if someone moves jobs - a new employee or volunteer who already has a Check does not require a new one.

The Working with Children Check is required for people in NSW who work with children. It is different from the Police Check.

Who needs a check?

Employers and organisations need to decide who engages in child-related work and requires a Working with Children Check, or if any roles fall under an exemption.

Child-related work (including voluntary work) is:

Providing services for children and young people under 18
Where the work normally involves being face to face with children
Where contact with children is more than incidental to the work.

The legislation lists sectors and services that are child-related work.

The following roles also require a Working with Children Check:

An adult who resides or stays regularly (several nights a week) on the property of an authorised carer (foster carer or other authorised carer of children in statutory or supported out-of-home-care)
A home-based education and care service provider
A family daycare service provider (where care is provided at home)
Potential adoptive parents.

If a role or sector of your organisation is not covered here, but you believe it to be child-related work, you can apply for a role to be considered by the Children’s Guardian. This situation can arise if a worker is dealing with confidential records for a child, for example, a researcher or administration person.

Exemptions

People who do not work or deliver services to children in NSW do not need a NSW Working with Children Check. If someone occasionally enters NSW to deliver services to children, it is the organisation’s responsibility to decide if a NSW Working with Children Check is required, or if an exemption applies.

The Regulations include exemptions to requiring a Working with Children Check. Employers should check the legislation for any exemptions that apply to their situation.

Exemptions include:

Under 18s
Workers visiting NSW for a short time
Parents and close relatives volunteering at their children’s usual school and extra-curricular activities.

There are three specific instances when close relatives do need a Check when they are volunteering at school or activities:

Providing personal care for a child with disability
Participating in a formal mentoring program
At an overnight camp for kids.

Role Examples:

WWCC Required	No WWCC Required
You work with children. This includes music teachers, extracurricular coaches, instructors, dance teachers, tutors, nannies, faith leaders and children's entertainers.	You work in an organisation that delivers services for children but you do not have more than incidental contact with the children.
You work with or help children with disability.	You are a student, over 18, on a clinical placement in a hospital or other health service.
You provide transport for children (including to their work in the entertainment industry).	Your work occasionally includes helping out with children as an incidental part of your role, but your work with children is very short term - a visitor to a school as a guest speaker.
You volunteer to work with children who are not close relatives.	You are under 18, or a co-worker or supervisor of a worker who is under 18.
You provide babysitting through an agency.	You work as a referee, umpire or linesperson or other sporting official where the work does not involve contact with children for extended periods without other adults being present.
	You are a private practice health practitioner who treats children with another adult present.

Other Resources

The NSW Office of the Children's Guardian has produced a Self-Assessment tool to help determine how closely your organisation fits with the Child Safety Standards. They also provide a media kit and various training and other resources to help meet the Child Safety Standards.

Child Safe Self Assessment Tool

Child Safe Self-Assessment Media Kit

Training and Resources