Who
Whoneeds
needsaaWorking
Working
With
WithChildren
ChildrenCheck?
Check?
Employers
need
to to
check
Employers
need
check
thethe
Check!
Check!
To To
apply
forfor
a Working
apply
a Working
With
Children
Check
With
Children
Check
• Fill out
anout
online
application
form at
• Fill
an online
application
form at
www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check
• When
you have
the application
form,form,
you you
• When
you completed
have completed
the application
will receive
an Application
number
(APP)(APP)
by email.
will receive
an Application
number
by email.
• Take
Application
number
and proof
of of
• this
Take
this Application
number
and proof
your identity to a NSW motor registry or Service
NSW Office. If you are in paid work, you will also
need to pay a fee of $80.
• Your
number
can be
used
by anby an
• Application
Your Application
number
can
be used
employer
to verify
your Check
status.
If the Ifoutcome
employer
to verify
your Check
status.
the outcome
of the of
verification
is ‘application
in progress’
you are
the verification
is ‘application
in progress’
you are
allowed
to begin
working
with children.
allowed
to begin
working
with children.
• your
Onceapplication
your application
has been
processed
• Once
has been
processed
and and
you
are cleared,
you
will receive
your Working
you are
cleared,
you will
receive
your Working
With With
Children
number
(WWC)
by email
(or ifpost if
Children
CheckCheck
number
(WWC)
by email
(or post
not an
have
an email
address).
you doyou
notdo
have
email
address).
Already
in child-related
work
Already
in child-related
work
as as
a paid
employee
or volunteer?
a paid
employee
or volunteer?
If you
are currently
in child-related
youbewill be
If you are
currently
in child-related
work work
you will
required
to
obtain
a
new
Working
With
Children
Check
required to obtain a new Working With Children Check
of an industry
phase-in
schedule.
as partasofpart
an industry
phase-in
schedule.
find
out which
you belong
and when
To findTo
out
which
sectorsector
you belong
to andtowhen
you you
need
to obtain
new Working
With Children
Check
need to
obtain
a newaWorking
With Children
Check
go go
to www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check
to
* Please note it can take up to four weeks for a
* Please note it can take up to four weeks for a
Working With Children Check to be processed,
Working With Children Check to be processed.
or longer if a risk assessment is required.
To comply
with with
the legislation,
employers
needneed
to go
To comply
the legislation,
employers
to go
onlineonline
to verify
the
status
of
a
Working
With
Children
to verify the status of a Working With Children
Check
number
for any
or volunteer
staffstaff
in in
Check
number
for paid
any paid
or volunteer
child-related
work.
child-related work.
Only
people
Only
peopleininchild-related
child-relatedwork
workneed
needtoto
apply
for
a
Check.
Under
the
Child
apply for a Check. Under the ChildProtection
Protection(Working
(Working
With
Children)
Act
2012,
child-related
With Children) Act 2012, child-relatedwork
workisisdefined
definedas:
as:
The Working
WithWith
Children
Check
application
number
The Working
Children
Check
application
number
(APP)(APP)
provides
information
on
barred
applicants
andand
provides information on barred applicants
thosethose
who who
are subject
to antointerim
bar. bar.
are subject
an interim
Barred
or interim
barred
persons
will not
Barred
or interim
barred
persons
will be
notissued
be issued
with a
Working
WithWith
Children
Check
clearance
number
with
a Working
Children
Check
clearance
number
(WWC).
Employers
need
to
verify
the
APP
numbers
for for
(WWC). Employers need to verify the APP numbers
applicants
so
we
can
share
this
information.
applicants so we can share this information.
The system
also also
continuously
checks
for any
newnew
relevant
The system
continuously
checks
for any
relevant
criminal
or workplace
records.
criminal
or workplace
records.
Online
verification
is anisimportant
tool tool
for employers
to to
Online
verification
an important
for employers
keepkeep
children
safe safe
in their
organisation.
children
in their
organisation.
Employers
mustmust
not rely
notification
or email
fromfrom
Employers
not on
relyaon
a notification
or email
an employee
or volunteer
containing
an application
or or
an employee
or volunteer
containing
an application
clearance
number.
You You
mustmust
go online
to check
the the
clearance
number.
go online
to check
Check
is current
and and
valid.valid.
Check
is current
To register
an employer
To register
as anasemployer
go togo to
www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check
Need
help
assistance?
Need
help
or or
assistance?
Telephone:
(02) 9286
Telephone:
(02) 9286
72197219
Email:
[email protected]
Email:
[email protected]
www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check
Visit:Visit:
131 450
TIS: TIS:
131 450
133 677
or 1300
TTY:TTY: 133 677
or 1300
555 555
727 727
A Working
With
Children
Check
is aisprerequisite
A Working
With
Children
Check
a prerequisite
for for
anyone
in
paid
or
voluntary
child-related
work
anyone in paid or voluntary child-related
work
in NSW.
in NSW.
TheThe
process
involves
a national
police
check
and
a review
process
involves
a national
police
check
and
a review
of findings
of misconduct.
of findings
of misconduct.
TheThe
result
is either
a clearance
to work
with
children
forfor
result
is either
a clearance
to work
with
children
fivefive
years
or aorbar
against
working
with
children.
years
a bar
against
working
with
children.
Barred
applicants
may
notnot
work
or or
volunteer
Barred
applicants
may
work
volunteer
with
children.
with
children.
A Working
With
Children
Check
is one
of the
tools
A Working
With
Children
Check
is one
of the
tools
available
to keep
children
safe.
available
to keep
children
safe.
Having
good
child-safe
policies
practices
also
helps
Having
good
child-safe
policies
andand
practices
also
helps
to create
safer
environments
children.
to create
safer
environments
for for
children.
more
information
about
being
For For
more
information
about
being
a ‘child
safe’
organisation
a ‘child
safe’
organisation
go go
to to
www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check
Promoting
and
regulating
Promoting
and
regulating
quality,
child
safe
quality, child safe
organisations
and
services
organisations
and
services
1. 1.Face-to-face
Face-to-facecontact
contactwith
withchildren
childrenininone
oneofofthe
the
following
sectors:
following sectors:
• •Child
Childdevelopment
developmentand
andfamily
familywelfare
welfareservices
services
• •Child
protection
Child protection
• •Children’s
Children’shealth
healthservices
services
• •Clubs
Clubsororother
otherbodies
bodiesproviding
providingservices
servicesfor
forchildren
children
• •Disability
services
Disability services
• •Early
Earlyeducation
educationand
andchild
childcare
care
• •Education
Education
• •Entertainment
Entertainmentforforchildren
children
• •Justice
Justicecentres
centres
• •Religious
Religiousservices
services
• •Residential
Residentialservices
services
Transportservices
servicesfor
forchildren
children
• •Transport
Schoolcleaning
cleaning
• •School
Youthwork;
work;
• •Youth
Work
oneofofthe
thefollowing
followingroles:
roles:
2. 2.Work
in inone
•
An
approved
provider
or
manager
aneducation
education
• An approved provider or manager ofofan
and
care
service
and care service
certifiedsupervisor
supervisorofofananeducation
educationand
and
• •A A
certified
careservice
service
care
authorisedcarer
carer
• •AnAnauthorised
•
An
assessment
officer
• An assessment officer
Theprincipal
principalofficer
officerofofa adesignated
designatedagency
agency
• •The
•
The
principal
officer
of
an
accredited
adoption
• The principal officer of an accredited adoption
service
provider
service provider
adult
wholives
livesatatthe
thehome
homeofofan
anauthorised
authorisedcarer
carer
• •AnAn
adult
who
adultwho
whoshares
sharesthe
thehome
homeofofa:a:
• •AnAnadult
–
home-based
education
andcare
careservice
service
– home-based education and
–
family
day
care
service
– family day care service
• A potential adoptive parent.
• A potential adoptive parent.
Additional roles may be designated as child-related
Additional roles may be designated as child-related
by employers with the permission of the Office of the
by employers with the permission of the Office of the
Children’s Guardian.
Children’s Guardian.
Phase in schedule for existing workers
INDUSTRY SECTORS
• Currently in paid child-related work
or volunteering? You will be phased in
according to your industry sector.
See the chart to the right.
• Child protection
• Child development and family
welfare services
• Clubs or other bodies providing services
to children (including sporting bodies)
• Justice services
• Religious services (work in roles including
youth groups, youth camps, teaching
children and child care)
• Entertainment for children
– Central Coast LHD
• Children’s health services
All remaining Local Health Districts not
yet phased in.
• Assessment Officer (assessment
INDUSTRY SECTORS
of reportable matters)
• Clubs or other bodies providing services
to children (including sporting bodies)
– Hunter New England LHD
• The Sydney Children’s Hospitals
• Disability services
Phase in schedule for existing
workers
• Self-employed? Apply when your
Certificateinfor
Selfchild-related
Employed work
• Currently
paid
People
expires. You will be phased in
or
volunteering?
to your
industry
sector.you
• according
Starting a new
job?
Apply before
See
chart
the right.
startthe
your
newtorole.
•NotSelf-employed?
Apply
your
sure which sector
youwhen
belong
to?
for Self Employed
GoCertificate
to www.kidsguardian.nsw.
People expires.
and read the fact sheet:
gov.au/check
sector
do I job?
belong
to? before you
•Which
Starting
a new
Apply
start your new role.
Not sure which sector you belong to?
Go to www.kidsguardian.nsw.
gov.au/check and read the fact sheet:
Which sector do I belong to?
• Religious services (work as a minister,
priest, rabbi, mufti or other like religious
Residential
servicesand family
• Child
development
leaderprotection
or spiritual officer of the organisation) • Child
welfare
services
•
Transport
services
for children
Disability
services
•• Youth
workers
•
Religious
services
(work
in roles
including
• Principal Officers of agencies
that
provide
•• Justice
services
Authorised
carers
youth groups, youth camps, teaching
•
voluntary
out-of-home
care
(registered
•• Religious
services
(work
as
a
minister,
Adult household members*
children and child care)
priest, rabbi, mufti or other like religious
agencies) under the Children and Young
•
Residential services
Apply
between
leader or spiritual officer of the organisation)
Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
•
Transport services for children
15 workers
Jun 2013 - 31 Mar 2014
• Youth
Members of governing bodies of
•
• Authorised carers
registered agencies and accredited
•
• Adult household members*
out-of-home care and adoption agencies
Apply between
15 Jun 2013 - 31 Mar 2014
• Entertainment for children
• Assessment Officer (assessment
of reportable matters)
• Children’s health services
(Local Health Districts)
– Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
• Children’s health services
– Mid North Coast LHD
(Local Health Districts)
– Northern NSW LHD
– Central Coast LHD
– South Eastern LHD
– Hunter New England LHD
• Education – Secondary schools
– Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
• Education – Vocational
– Mid North Coast LHD
• Education – Private tuition
– Northern NSW LHD
and coaching
– South Eastern LHD
• Education – Secondary schools
Apply between
1 Apr 2015 - 31 Mar 2016
1 Apr
- 31
Mar 2015
Apply
between
• Education – Vocational
• Education – Private tuition
and coaching
Apply between
1 Apr 2016 - 31 Mar 2017
1 Apr 2014 - 31 Mar 2015
Apply between
1 Apr 2015 - 31 Mar 2016
1 Apr
- 31
Mar 2015
Apply
between
Who is exempt from a Working With Children Check?
• Work with minimal direct contact or unsupervised contact
Thewith
following
services
and
sectors
are
children,roles,
done for
no more
than
five days
in exempt:
a
calendar
year.
• Administrative, clerical or maintenance work, or other
similar visitor at a school or other place where child-related work
is carried out if the work of the person at that place is for a one
off
andprogram
is carriedorout
in the
presence
of one
more
b) occasion
with a team,
other
activity
in which
the or
child
other
adults.
usually
participates or is a team member.
Who is exempt from a Working With Children
Check?
• A visiting speaker,
adjudicator, performer, assessor or other
• ancillary
Informal domestic
not carried
on with
work, thatarrangements
does not ordinarily
involveout
contact
a professional
or commercial
children
for extended
periods.basis.
close relatives
of the worker
(not including
work
• Work with minimal
direct contact
or unsupervised
contact
as anchildren,
authorised
carer).
with
done
for no more than five days in a
year.by a parent or close relative of a child (except
• calendar
Volunteering
where the
work is part
of a formalnot
mentoring
program
• Informal
domestic
arrangements
carried out
on or
involves
intimate
carebasis.
of children with a disability):
a
professional
or personal
commercial
in private practice,
if the
practice
•• A
A health
visitingpractitioner
speaker, adjudicator,
performer,
assessor
or does
othernot
ordinarily
involve
children
or more other
similar visitor
at atreatment
school or of
other
placewithout
where one
child-related
work
adults
present.
is carried
out if the work of the person at that place is for a one
• A
practitioner
who isout
working
and visiting
NeworSouth
offhealth
occasion
and is carried
in theinpresence
of one
more
Walesadults.
from outside the State, if the period of work does not
other
total of five in
days
in any
period ifofthe
three
months.
• exceed
A healthapractitioner
private
practice,
practice
does not
a) in activities
forrelatives
the child’s
school,
early
• Work
with close
of the
worker
(noteducation
includingservice
work
or other
educational
as an
authorised
carer). institution OR
• A
co-worker
or work
supervisor
wherewithout
a child works.
ordinarily
involve
treatment
of children
one or more other
adults present.
• Volunteering by a parent or close relative of a child (except
where the work is part of a formal mentoring program or
involves intimate personal care of children with a disability):
• A health practitioner who is working in and visiting New South
Wales from outside the State, if the period of work does not
exceed a total of five days in any period of three months.
• Education and care service – approved
Apply between
provider, manager
or certified supervisor
1 Apr 2017 - 31 Mar 2018
Apply between
1 Apr 2017 - 31 Mar 2018
The following roles, services and sectors are exempt:
b) with a team, program or other activity in which the child
usually participates or is a team member.
• Education – schools and other
educational institutions not yet phased in
Apply between
1 Apr 2016 - 31 Mar 2017
1 Apr 2014 - 31 Mar 2015
• Administrative, clerical or maintenance work, or other
ancillary work, that does not ordinarily involve contact with
children for extended periods.
• Network (Randwick and Westmead)
•• Children’s
health
services
Justice Health
and
Forensic Mental
All remaining Local Health Districts not
• Health Network
yet phased in.
• Ambulance Service of NSW
• The Sydney Children’s Hospitals
• Children’s Health
• Network (Randwick and Westmead)
– remaining services
• Justice Health and Forensic Mental
• Early education and child care
• Health Network
• Education – schools and other
• Ambulance Service of NSW
educational institutions not yet phased in
• Children’s Health
• Education and care service – approved
–provider,
remaining
services
manager
or certified supervisor
• Early education and child care
• Work by an interstate visitor:
a) in a one-off event such as a jamboree, sporting or religious
event or tour, if the event is the only child-related work carried
out by the worker in NSW in that calendar year and the period
of work does not exceed 30 days
who
an interstate
working with children check, or is
• b)
Work
byholds
an interstate
visitor:
exempt
from
the
requirement
to have such
a check
in his or
a) in a one-off event such as a jamboree,
sporting
or religious
her
home
jurisdiction,
whose
child
related
work
in
NSW
is for
event or tour, if the event is the only child-related work carried
no
30 days
in any
calendar
year.year and the period
outmore
by thethan
worker
in NSW
in that
calendar
• NSW
Policedoes
or Australian
Federal
Police officers in their capacity
of work
not exceed
30 days
as
officers.
b) police
who holds
an interstate working with children check, or is
• Home
carers
accredited
with a current
exempt
from
the requirement
to havepolice
such certificate
a check infor
his or
aged
forjurisdiction,
home carewhose
work where
the clients
hercare,
home
child related
workare
in not
NSW is for
primarily
children.
no more
than 30 days in any calendar year.
People
underorthe
age of 18.
• NSW
Police
Australian
Federal Police officers in their capacity
as police officers.
• Home carers accredited with a current police certificate for
aged care, for home care work where the clients are not
If your work falls into one of the following categories, it is also
not considered to be child-related:
• Work as a student in the course of a student clinical
placement in a hospital or other health service.
• Work as a referee, umpire, linesperson or otherwise as a
If your
work official
falls into
of the followingif the
categories,
it isnot
also
sporting
orone
a groundsperson
work does
notordinarily
considered
to be
child-related:
involve
contact
with children for extended periods
adultsinbeing
present.
• without
Work asother
a student
the course
of a student clinical
• Work
in providing
respiteorcare
orhealth
other support
placement
in a hospital
other
service. services
primarily
for
children
with
a
disability
is
child-related
• Work as a referee, umpire, linesperson or otherwise as a
work;
butofficial
it is not
work ifif the
the work
work does
does not
not
sporting
orchild-related
a groundsperson
ordinarily involve
involve contact
contact with
with children
children for
for extended
extended periods
periods
ordinarily
without
present.
without other
other adults
adults being
being present.
•• Work
Providing
food orrespite
equipment
at other
or forsupport
a sporting,
cultural
in providing
care or
services
or other entertainment
or providing
a venue.
primarily
for children withvenue
a disability
is child-related
work; but it is not child-related work if the work does not
ordinarily involve contact with children for extended periods
without other adults being present.