Working with Children Check
The Office of the Children’s Guardian regulate and oversee organisations in NSW to uphold children and young people’s right to be safe. Organisations providing services to children in NSW have a responsibility to keep them safe.
It is the responsibility of the University and the appropriate supervisor to decide if they or their workers or volunteers, engage in child-related work, and require a Working with Children Check, or if any roles fall under an exemption.
Adults who work or volunteer in child-related work in NSW must have a Working with Children Check (WWCC). Employers and organisations must verify the WWCC details and keep records of anyone they have in child-related work.
A NSW clearance is valid for 5 years and is continuously monitored. Holders must give their employer their WWCC or APP number, including their date of birth so that the details can be verified.
At UNE all new and existing staff, volunteers, and affiliates engaging in child-related work as part of their University duties must hold a current New South Wales Working with Children Check.
An interstate equivalent check or certificate does not meet the legislative requirements for child-related work in NSW as set by the Office of the Children's Guardian.
All information regarding who needs to hold a Working With Children's Check and how to apply is accessible via the Office of the Children's Guardian.
It is important to note that an applicant must present original identification documents for verification, to a Service NSW Centre to complete the application process. Documents that have been laminated will not be accepted.
Additional requirements for appointment to a role that includes child-related work will be included as part of the position description. The University has legal obligations around working with children. It is against the law to engage anyone in child-related work without a Working with Children Check. Under the legislation, a person can start working with children once they have an Application number (APP) for a Working with Children Check (WWCC). However, UNE requires workers to hold a valid WWCC clearance before they can commence in a position that involves child-related work. The University must verify a worker's or volunteer's WWCC before they start working with children. UNE must verify Working with Children Check numbers online including: Staff in charge of verifying WWCC numbers must make sure their own Check (if required) is verified online by an appropriate person in the University. Staff cannot self-verify. Future and current staff: Must submit their application number and then their Working with Children's Check clearance number together with their date of birth and surname to People and Culture via Service Now. Future and current volunteers: Must submit their application number and then the Working with Children's Check clearance number together with their date of birth and surname to Safe Communities via safecommunities@une.edu.au. A verification of the WWCC clearance will be completed via the Office of the Children's Guardian. Confirmation of the verification will be sent to the supervisor's email. If there is a change in the status of the WWCC you and your immediate supervisor will be contacted. A record of the WWCC will made within the staff members' employee file. WWCC verification records will be created and held by the immediate supervisor for staff and volunteers, in accordance with the University Records Management Rule. Having certain records will lead to a Working with Children Check application being refused. Applicants can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to appeal a Working with Children Check bar. The University cannot engage anyone in child-related work who has been barred from working with children. Any UNE Representative, student or volunteer currently engaged by the University for child-related work who in the course of their appointment is barred by the Office of the Children’s Guardian will be immediately suspended from any child-related work pending further investigation. Individuals must immediately notify the University if they are barred from working with children and cease engaging in any child-related work. There is an exemption for some students from requiring a Working With Children Check, in accordance with the NSW legislation, if the placement is in a hospital or health service, as specified in the legislation. UNE aligns our Working With Children Check requirements to be consistent with the legislation. Different organisations can have different requirements, however, this should be verified and met before a placement or practical proceeding to avoid disappointment and lack of progression for a student.
