Working with Children Check - Amendments to the Act

Yes, these changes are already in place in seven other jurisdictions across Australia. The Northern Territory amending legislation was passed in early 2026, however these provisions have not yet commenced.

The WWC National Reference System (WWC NRS), maintained by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, records negative WWC outcomes issued under each of the WWC screening schemes across Australia. Once the amendments commence, the WWC Screening Unit will check all current applicants and card holders against the NRS to identify any individuals who are subject to an adverse interstate WWC decision.

When you apply for a WA WWC Check, you provide your consent for the WWC Screening Unit to undertake a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check at the time of application/renewal, and the ongoing collection, use and disclosure of information about you that is relevant to your suitability to hold a WWC Card.  Checking against the WWC NRS forms part of these initial and ongoing checks.

If you don’t provide your consent, you are unable to submit a WWC application or renewal.

Refer to Factsheet APP01: Consent, informed and ongoing for further information.

An individual who is the subject of an adverse interstate WWC decision must immediately cease all child-related work once their WA WWC application is withdrawn or their WA card cancelled.

They are also prohibited from accessing the child or parent volunteer exemption, the unpaid student on placement under 18 years of age exemption, the short term visitor to WA exemption and the one-off national events and national tours exemption. For further information refer to Factsheet CRW04: Exemptions, Narrowing of access. 

Continuing to undertake child-related work in these circumstances is a breach of the Act and can lead to prosecution.

If an organisation becomes aware that an employee, volunteer or student is subject to an adverse interstate WWC decision, they must immediately take steps to ensure the person does not continue engaging in child-related work.

This includes those accessing the child or parent volunteer exemption or the unpaid student on placement under 18 years of age exemption. For further information refer to Factsheet CRW04: Exemptions, Narrowing of access. 

The volunteer declaration has been updated to include reference to having an adverse interstate WWC decision. The Resource ORG01: WWC Check, Compliance toolkit also provides additional tips for organisations to manage their WWC obligations.

• Australia Capital Territory - Working with Vulnerable People
• Queensland - Working with Children Check (Blue Card)
• New South Wales - Working with Children Check
• Northern Territory - Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card)
• South Australia - Working with Children Check
• Tasmania - Registration to Work with Vulnerable People
• Victoria - Working with Children Check