Working with Children Checks - Parents Responsibilities

The CSPWA office team recently attended an online workshop for parents and guardians, to get a refresher on some of the important roles for parents when it comes to Working with Children Checks (WWC) in WA.

One area from the workshop we wanted to highlight to parents, is when they engage a self-employed tutor, disability support worker, nanny, or party hire entertainer for their child in a private arrangement. In these instances, the workers do not have an organisation monitoring their Working with Children Status, so the Working with Children Screening Team recommends parents ALWAYS ask to see a WWC card when engaging these types of services and supports. If the employee can not provide a card or doesn't have a WWC, then they urge you to be cautious and possibly look for an alternative service. You are able to check the status of an individual's WWC application via the WWC website, if you have their application number: https://www.workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au/application-status-check.

WWCs also apply to online contact. For example, if you are engaging a tutoring service, and the tutor is based in another state, they are required to hold a Western Australian WWC and you are encouraged to ask them to see their card.

If an employee has had their WWC suspended due to an offence, they are required to surrender their WWC card and stop child-related work immediately. There have been instances in the past where some self-employed individuals have continued working with their invalid card, and have faced legal action. The WWC screening team suggests parents also take note of the particular card number of the employee, and check it regularly online to make sure it's still active. This can be done through the WWC website: https://www.workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au/card-validation.

Aside from the WWC, the screening team also suggests parents ask for a National Police Clearance, and for references when engaging someone to work with your child in a private arrangement.

For more information on who needs a check and who is exempt, and where you can go if you have any specific questions about your situation, please see the WWC website: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/working-children-check.