The Victorian Government has introduced a new checking system which will affect some people who work or volunteer with children. The Working with Children (WWC) Check helps to protect children from sexual or physical harm by checking a person's criminal history for serious sexual, violence or drug offences and findings from professional disciplinary bodies. The introduction of the WWC Check creates a mandatory minimum checking standard across Victoria.

The Working with Children (WWC) Check creates a mandatory minimum checking standard across Victoria. The WWC Check helps to keep children safe by preventing those who pose a risk to the safety of children from working with them, in either paid or volunteer work. If you work or volunteer with children you may need to apply for a WWC Check.

The phasing-in plan has recently been updated. If your work or volunteer activities fall within the occupational field of Clubs, Associations or Movements of a sporting or recreational nature then this change affects you.

People who work or volunteer in connection with the following sport or recreational activities will need to apply by 30th June 2009:

· Athletics (including Little Athletics)
· Basketball
· Cricket
· Football (Australian Rules)
· Football (Soccer)
· Gymnastics (including Trampolining)
· Martial arts
· Netball
· Swimming (including Lifesaving)
· Tennis

All remaining sporting or recreational activities will be 'phased in' in Year 4 (from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010).
You need to apply for and pass the WWC Check if you meet all of the following criteria:
your work or volunteer role involves contact with children
you volunteer or do this work on a regular basis
you have direct contact with children under 18 years of age and are not directly supervised

Does your work or volunteering usually (or is likely to) involve regular, direct contact with a child where that contact is not directly supervised?
To help you answer this question, you should discuss the nature of your role with your employer, agency or volunteer organisation.
‘Direct contact’ is any contact with a child that involves any of the following:
physical contact
talking face-to-face
physically being in view – this means you can see them.

To assist the sport and recreation sector a “Working With Children in Sport” toolkit information is available from the Department of Planning and Community Development. In the meantime you can contact the WWC Check Information Line 1300 652 879 or www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren

Forms are available from any participating Australia Post outlets. You will also need to have a passport photograph taken to put with your application. This photograph must meet all standards and specifications that are required for an Australian Passport.

Who it involves
If you are an existing employee, new employee, volunteer or self-employed person who undertakes child-related work you may need a WWC Check. If your work usually involves (or is likely to involve) regular, direct contact with a child where that contact is not directly supervised, you will need to apply for a WWC Check. You must pass a WWC Check to be eligible to work or volunteer in child-related work (unless an exemption applies).

If you are an employer, agency or volunteer organisation that employs people in child-related work, and that work usually involves (or is likely to involve) regular, direct contact with a child where that contact is not directly supervised, you will need to ensure that any of your employees or volunteers who are required to obtain a Check do so.

When do you apply
WWC Checks are being phased in over a five year period, commencing in April 2006. It is anticipated that approximately 100,000 WWC Checks will be processed each year. The five year phasing plan details when different categories of child related work are required to obtain WWC Checks. It is important for existing employees, new employees, employers, self-employed people, and volunteer organisations and agencies to check the phasing plan to find out when WWC Checks will be required. Find out when you need to apply.

Child safety
The WWC Check is one of a number of government initiatives that promote child safety. The Check aims to place a barrier between children and those who should not be working with children because of their criminal history or findings from a professional disciplinary body.

Much More Information (PDF)

Further information from the Working With Children Web-site