(WWC Check) Booklet - Working with Children Check

What happens once you apply?• Those who havesuccessfully undergonethe WWC Check will eachreceive an AssessmentNotice in the form of aWWC Card which enablesthem to be in child-relatedwork. This means thateither the person has noknown criminal record or,if there is a record, it hasbeen assessed as unlikelyto pose a risk to children.• Those who are consideredto have criminal historiesthat indicate they may harma child are issued with aNegative Notice, meaningthey are prohibited fromworking with children andcould face up to 5 years inprison and a $60,000fine if they continuechild-related work.• The WWC Card is ‘live’,which means that it ismonitored and regularinformation is providedincluding from the WAPolice. If a relevant offenceis committed, the WWCCard can be reassessedand if necessary removed.What happens once you apply?General information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.7

Practical informationPractical information• Apply at certain AustraliaPost outlets with 100points of identification.The fee* is $50 for selfemployedand paid workersand $10 for volunteers andunpaid workers.• If you are employed orvolunteer your employeror agency representativewill need to fill outcertain sections of theApplication Form.• You can start or continuechild-related work withyour receipt from AustraliaPost with some exceptions(please visit the website forfurther details).* Accurate at time of printing• The WWC Card is valid for3 years.• Once obtained you canuse your WWC Card forany paid or voluntarychild-related work.• The WWC Card iscompulsory for peoplein child-related work inWA and Christmas andCocos (Keeling) Islands.People not in child-relatedwork must not apply forthis check.• Volunteers (includingstudents on unpaidplacements) who are under18 years are exempt andmust not apply.8General information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.

How to renew your WWC CardImportant points to remember• The card expires after3 years and then theapplicant is required tore-apply to continuechild-related work.The application processis the same as when theapplicant first applied.• Only the applicant receivesa reminder letter (not theemployer). It is importantthat the WWC ScreeningUnit has the currentaddress of applicants.Updated information canbe provided on the websiteor by calling the inquiriesnumber.• Employers are required toensure that employees inchild-related work havereapplied for a WWC Card.• It is recommended thatcard holders reapply amonth before their cardsexpire.How to renew your WWC CardGeneral information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.9

Information for parentsInformation forparentsProtecting your childrenParents can ask to seethe WWC Card of peopleemployed to work with theirchildren such as babysitters,nannies, counsellors, danceteachers, modelling teachers,music tutors and children’sentertainers. Parents can checkthat a WWC Card is currentand has not been cancelledby entering the person’s cardnumber in the validation box onthe WWC website.See the next page for otherstrategies organisationsshould use to help keep yourchildren safe.Volunteer Parent ExemptionParents have contact withtheir children’s friends throughvolunteering as well as manyinformal situations like going tosports or school functions orwhen their friends visit.The WWC Check is notappropriate for these situations.Many parents who volunteer inconnection with their childrenmay be exempt from havingto apply. For example:• a parent volunteer whoumpires a sporting teamwhere their child is amember of the sporting club;• a parent who volunteers ata school where their child isenrolled; and• a parent who volunteers atthe kindergarten in whichtheir child is enrolled.Where criminal record checksare needed for volunteersnot in child-related workrefer to www.dfc.wa.gov.aufor information about theNational Police Checks forVolunteers Program.See the website for a list of otherparent volunteer exemptions.10General information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.

Child safe/child friendly organisationsThe WWC Check is only one way we can help keep childrensafe when they participate in activities outside of the home.There are many other things employers and organisations thatwork with children can do to make sure their organisation ischild safe and child friendly.A child safe/child friendlyorganisation will have policiesand strategies in place toprotect children from beingharmed by people entrustedto work with them or whootherwise come on to thepremises. A child friendly andchild safe organisation is alsocommitted to encouragingchildren to participate inactivities and to ensure childrenare listened to and theirconcerns are taken seriously.Providing child safe/childfriendly environments for ourchildren is the responsibilityof all people who work withchildren. To find out moreabout creating child safeenvironments for childrenplease see our IntroductoryFactsheet on our websitewhich has been developedby Childwise.Important information for employersand volunteer coordinatorsOver the page are some step-by-step suggestions for managingthe implementation of the WWC legislation in your organisation.Identify who in your organisation needs a WWC Check andwhen they need to apply using the Checklist. Employers andvolunteer coordinators should not be implementing “blanketpolicies” based on job title or place of work. A “blanket policy”is a policy organisations/employers make that require all theiremployees to apply for a WWC Check, regardless of whethera person undertakes child-related work or not.Child safe/child friendly organisationsImportant information for employers and volunteer coordinatorsGeneral information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.11

Important information for employers and volunteer coordinatorsBecome familiar with your obligations under the WWClegislation. These include:Q If you employ newemployees/volunteers inchild-related work ensureyou view and record theiroriginal WWC Cards orreceipts of application.w Check the websiteperiodically to ensurethat your employees’and volunteers’ cards arecurrent and have notbeen cancelled.e Develop a record-keepingdocument that showsyou are complying withthe WWC legislation. Thelegislation allows the WWCScreening Unit to checkrecords for compliance.Some examples of auditquestions are listed on theWWC website.r The issue of a NegativeNotice is not taken lightly.A range of relevantinformation that is notavailable to the generalpublic is consideredcarefully.If an employee has a NNyou must ensure you donot employ him/her inchild-related work. To doso is a criminal offencewith a penalty of $60,000and 5 years imprisonment.It is important thisinformation be treatedsensitively. This meansadvising only those whoneed to know to ensurethat the person does notcarry out child-related work.T Develop other policiesand practices that createchild safe/child friendlyenvironments.y Where organisationsrequire criminal recordchecks for people not inchild-related work, referto www.police.wa.gov.aufor information about theNational Police Certificate.For information about theNational Police Check forVolunteers please refer towww.dfc.wa.gov.au12General information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.

Important information for employees,volunteers and self-employed workersWhat are your obligations?Below is a summary of the major obligations employees haveunder the WWC legislation. Please refer to the legislation forinformation on all the obligations and prohibitions that applyto you.YOU MUST:• Apply for or already holda WWC Card by the daterequired under thephasing-in arrangements.• Apply for a WWC Checkwithin the time stated if theScreening Unit requests inwriting that you apply.• Stop child-relatedwork immediately ifyou are convicted ofa Class 1 offence thatwas committed whenyou were an adult orif you are issuedwith a NegativeNotice or InterimNegative Notice.• Return your WWC Cardto the Screening Unitas soon as practicableif you are issued with aNegative Notice or InterimNegative Notice, or if youhave been convicted of aClass 1 offence that wascommitted as an adult.Important information for employees, volunteers and self-employed workersGeneral information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.13

Categories of Child-related workCategories of Child-related workUnder section 6 of the Working with Children (Criminal RecordChecking) Act 2004 you are in child-related work and requirea Working with Children Check only if the usual duties ofthe work involve, or are likely to involve, contact with a child inconnection with:(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)a child care service; (hasthe meaning given tothat term under s4 of theChild Care Services Act2007);a communitykindergarten registeredunder Part 5 of theSchool Education Act1999;an educational institutionfor children;a coaching or privatetuition service of anykind, but not includingan informal arrangemententered into for private ordomestic purposes;an arrangement for theaccommodation or careof children, whetherin a residential facilityor private residence,but not including aninformal arrangementmade by a parent ofthe child concerned oraccommodation or careprovided by a relative ofthe child;(vi) a placementarrangement under theChildren and CommunityServices Act 2004;(vii) the performance by anofficer, as defined in theChildren and CommunityServices Act 2004, ofa function given to theofficer under that Act;(viii) a detention centre, asdefined in the YoungOffenders Act 1994section 3;(ix) a community child healthservice;14General information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.

(x) a counselling or othersupport service;(xi) a religious organisation;(xii) a club, association ormovement (including ofa cultural, recreationalor sporting nature andwhether incorporatedor not) with a significantmembership orinvolvement of children,but not including aninformal arrangemententered into for private ordomestic purposes;(xiii) a ward of a public orprivate hospital in whichchildren are ordinarilypatients;(xiv) a baby sitting or childminding service, but notincluding an informalarrangement entered intofor private or domesticpurposes;(xv) an overnight camp,regardless of the typeof accommodation orhow many children areinvolved;(xvi) a transport servicespecifically for children;(xvii) a school crossingservice, being a serviceprovided to assistchildren to cross roadson their way to or fromschool; or(xviii) a children’s entertainmentor party service.(xix) If new regulations aremade additional typesof child-related workwill comprise the 19thcategory.Categories of Child-related workGeneral information and summary only – see checkwwc.wa.gov.au for further details.This information is accurate as at 27 May 2009. Visit checkwwc.wa.gov.au for information that is updated.15

This booklet is available to enable you to access general information inrelation to the Working with Children legislation in Western Australia and isnot designed to offer specific legal or other advice of any kind. If you needany information for a specific or legal matter, you should obtain appropriateprofessional/legal advice that takes into account your particular setof circumstances.27 May 2009For more information about the WWC Check contact the:Working with Children Screening UnitPO Box 1262, West Perth, WA 6872Tel: (08) 6217 8100Toll-free: 1800 883 979Email: checkquery@dcp.wa.gov.auwebsite: www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au