What is the Working with Children Check?

As a result of the 2016 Nyland Royal Commission into child protection, the South Australian Government introduced the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016. The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a new requirement brought in under this Act, to further improve checks on people who work or volunteer with children.

Is the WWCC mandatory?

From 1 July 2019, a WWCC will become a mandatory requirement for anyone in South Australia who works with children. Working with Children Checks will be valid for five years from the date of issue.

How will the WWCC affect teacher registration?

From 1 July 2019, anyone applying for teacher registration or renewal of teacher registration in South Australia must hold a valid WWCC.

Teachers who are renewing their registration in the 2019-2020 renewal period will be required to provide evidence of a valid WWCC or a DHS Child-related Screening Clearance.

Transition arrangements

Teachers due to renew in 2019

If you are due to renew before the 31 December 2019 and do not hold a current DHS Child-related Screening Clearance you will be required to have a WWCC when you renew your registration. You will need to apply for a WWCC as soon as possible after 1 July 2019 and before renewing your registration.

If you hold a current DHS Child-related Screening Clearance you can apply to renew your registration without a WWCC however, you must apply for a WWCC before your DHS clearance expires.

Teachers due to renew in 2020 or 2021

Teachers who are due to renew in 2020 or 2021 do not need to do anything now. However, when applying to renew your registration you will be required to have a WWCC so you will need to apply for a WWCC before you renew your registration.

New applicants from 1 July 2019

All new applicants applying for teacher registration from 1 July 2019 must have a WWCC unless they hold a current DHS Child-related Screening Clearance. Anyone who applies with a current DHS Child-related Screening Clearance must apply for a WWCC before their DHS clearance expires.

Holders of a current DHS Child-related Screening Clearance

• If you are renewing your registration in 2019 and you hold a current DHS Child-related Screening Clearance you can renew your registration without a WWCC^*.

• If you are a new applicant and you hold a current DHS clearance your application can be processed without a WWCC^*.
  
  

^*Prior to expiry of your DHS clearance you will be required to apply for a WWCC.

As professionals, teachers have a responsibility to maintain all requirements of registration.

If you let your Working with Children Check lapse (or if your current DHS clearance expires and you fail to gain a WWCC before it expires), under Section 33A of the Children’s Protection Law Reform Act 2017, your registration may be suspended without notice.

Therefore it is essential that you ensure that you have a valid WWCC at all times.

All questions regarding gaining a WWCC need to be directed to the Central Assessment Unit of the Department for Health who will process all WWCC applications.

For further information about how the WWCC impacts teacher registration visit our website or attend one of our information sessions where the proposed reforms to the Teachers Registration and Standards Act 2004 will also be discussed.