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About the Check

The Working with Children (WWC) Check commenced operation in April 2006.

It contributes to the safety of Victoria’s children when they are being cared for, or participating in a range of activities, by seeking to prevent those who pose a risk to the safety of children from working with them, in either paid or volunteer work.

The Working with Children Act 2005 requires that people who work or volunteer in certain child-related work apply for, and pass, a WWC Check. It aims to strike a balance between protecting children under 18 years of age, promoting volunteering and safeguarding the rights of individuals.

Applicants are checked to make sure their record does not include any criminal offences specified in the Act or findings by a specified professional disciplinary body (currently only the Victorian Institute of Teaching and the out home care Suitability Panel). Criminal offences not specified in the Act can also be considered if there is a potential link to a risk to the safety of children and exceptional circumstances may exist that justify refusal of the application.

Benefits of the Check

The benefits of the WWC Check include:

•  ongoing checking of a person’s criminal record while the person’s WWC Check is valid. The department is also advised of any future relevant findings made against a person by the out of home care Suitability Panel, or against a person currently registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
• providing employers, volunteer organisations and agencies with the ability to verify WWC Check cards at any time 
• card holders do not need to apply for a new WWC Check when they change their employer or volunteer organisation, unless they are moving from volunteer to paid work. WWC Check Cards are valid for five years (unless revoked because of a relevant change in the holder’s circumstances or voluntarily surrendered by the holder).