Overview

Navigating what background checks are required to maintain the safety of your volunteers and the community can be a difficult task.

Complying with local legislation and regulations is essential for your program if your volunteers engage with children and/or vulnerable people as part of their role. Knowing what checks are required for your volunteers is also important in creating comprehensive risk assessments and policies in relation to protecting children and/or vulnerable people and arranging suitable training and supervision for your volunteer.

Common Terms

NDIS: National Disability Insurance Scheme

NDISWC: National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Check

WWVP: Working with Vulnerable People

WWCC: Working with Children Check

Vulnerable Person: According to Access Canberra’s definition, ‘Vulnerable person’ or ‘vulnerable people’ refers to an adult who is disadvantaged and is accessing a regulated activity in relation to the disadvantage.

Disadvantage in this context includes:

• A physical or mental disability.
• Social or financial hardship.
• An inability to communicate.
• Difficulty communicating in English.

Jurisdictional differences

Each state and territory in Australia use a different system for regulating background checks.

South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory use the Working with Children Check. The Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania use the Working with Vulnerable People Checks.

Working with Vulnerable People Checks refer to both children and disadvantaged adults, whereas the Working with Children Check relates only to child-related work. It has a narrower application than the Working With Vulnerable People. In relation to National Disability Insurance Scheme activities, an additional National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Check may be required for certain volunteers conducting relevant activity in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland or Northern Territory.

When is a Working with Vulnerable People, Working with Children Check needed?

Not all volunteers are required to be registered for a Working with Vulnerable People or Working with Children Check. These background checks are only required if the volunteer is working with children. (in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria or Northern Territory) or with vulnerable people in a regulated activity (in Australian Capital Territory or Tasmania). Your local Volunteering Peak Body can support you to navigate this process, and more detailed information can be found on state and territory governing body websites:

Please note that possession of a Working with Vulnerable People or Working with Children Check in one State or Territory may not apply to other States or Territories.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening Check

An National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening Check is a comprehensive assessment conducted to determine whether a person who works or intends to work with people with disabilities poses any risk to them. This check is crucial for maintaining a safe environment for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.

Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Commission, a worker is anyone who is employed or otherwise engaged to provide National Disability Insurance Scheme supports and services to people with disability. Workers can be paid or unpaid, and can be people who are self-employed, employees, contractors, consultants, and volunteers.

Getting a check

To get started applying for your National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening you will require:

• Identity Documents
• Work Details, such as qualifications and employer details
• Information on your qualifications relevant to the disability sector
• To provide consent for any other background checks, such as Police Checks
  

Specific requirements may vary between Worker Screening Units between states and territories.

Different states and territories in Australia perform checks with their own screening body and each check is nationally recognized and monitored. While your check is valid, it can be used all over Australia.

Please note that a National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Check does not take the place of a Working with Children Check or Working with Vulnerable People check. Depending on the role these checks may be required as well as the National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Check.

Additional Resources

Certain types of employment or volunteer work may require a National Police Check. For detailed information on National Police Checks, please consult our article National Police Check.

Acknowledgement

This resource has been developed under the National Volunteer Management Activity project.