Is a WWC Check required?
A WWC Check is required if someone has an 'agreement to work' in a role undertaking 'child-related work', and no 'exemptions' apply.
Follow the guide below to determine whether a WWC Check is required.
Question 1 - Is there an agreement to work?
If yes, move to Question 2.
If no, a WWC Check is not required.
Question 2 - Is it child-related work?
If yes, move to Question 3.
If no, a WWC Check is not required.
Question 3 - Does an exemption apply?
If yes, a WWC Check is not required.
If no, a WWC Check is required.
Agreement to work
An agreement to work can be a written or unwritten agreement between a person and another person or an 'organisation', to carry out 'child-related work' on a 'paid', 'unpaid' or 'volunteer' basis.
It can refer to both 'child-related employment' and a 'child-related business' as defined in the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004.
Child-related work
Child-related work has a specific definition in the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004.
Work is child-related if the 'usual duties' of the work involve or are likely to involve 'contact' with a child in connection with at least one of the categories of 'child-related work'.
Categories of child-related work
There are 18 categories of child-related work prescribed in the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 for general public use.
A list of the categories can be found in Infographic CRW01 – Categories of child-related work and individual factsheets on our Resources page.
There are two additional categories of child-related work that relate specifically to staff of the WWC Screening Unit or other work as prescribed in the Working with Children (Screening) Regulations 2005.
If more than one category of 'child-related work' describes the work a person does, or they have more than one child-related job then consider the following:
- If a person has a 'paid' and a 'volunteer' or 'unpaid' job in child-related work they must select the category of child-related work that applies to their paid employment and apply as a paid employee (or self-employed person).
- If a person has more than one paid, or more than one volunteer or unpaid job in child-related work then the category for which an 'exemption' does not apply is the category they should apply under.
Exemptions
Certain people do not require a WWC Check because they fit within the description of an exemption from child-related work as outlined in the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 and the Working with Children (Screening) Regulations 2005.
There are some general exemptions which apply across all categories of child-related work while others are specific to a particular category or circumstance.
If a person’s work is covered by an 'exemption', then they are ineligible to apply for a WWC Check. However, it is important to consider all the work a person does when deciding whether they are exempt and do not require a WWC Check.
Exemptions across all categories
Child volunteers
Applies to work carried out on a 'volunteer' basis by a 'child'. If the child is undertaking child-related work which is 'paid', then they will require a WWC Check.
Unpaid students on placement under 18 years of age
Applies to work carried out on an unpaid basis by a 'student' under 18 years of age as part of their educational or vocational course of study with an 'education provider'.
Please note people with a current 'Interim Negative Notice' or 'Negative Notice' are not eligible to access the child volunteer or unpaid students on placement under 18 years of age exemptions. Refer to Factsheet CRW04: Exemptions, Narrowing of access for more information.
Short-term visitors to WA
Applies to work carried out by visitors to WA, where the person is not ordinarily resident in WA and:
- only applies during the two-week period after the person arrives in WA
- cannot exceed a total of two weeks in any period of 12 months
- cannot be used in conjunction with the one-off national events and national tours exemption. A person cannot use both exemptions in the same 12-month period.
Exemptions for specific circumstances
- Factsheet CRW03: Exemptions, The parent volunteer exemption.
- Factsheet CRW02: Exemptions, One-off national events and national tours.
- Police officers when performing their duties and functions as a member of the WA Police Force, for some categories. Please check the relevant category factsheets on our Resources page.
- There are specific exemptions relating to categories 4, 5 and 18, which are outlined in the relevant category factsheets on our Resources page.
Please note people with a current 'Interim Negative Notice' or 'Negative Notice' are not eligible to access the parent volunteer exemption. Refer to Factsheet CRW04: Exemptions, Narrowing of access.
