You must have a Screening SA account to apply for a Working with Children Check (WWCC).
You will already have an account if you have:
- a current worker screening check
- an expired check
- previously completed an application that was assessed by the Screening Unit.
If you're logging in for the first time, or have forgotten your login details, see how to recover your account (on this page).
If you don't already have a check or an account, learn how to create an individual screening account (on this page).
Apply for a check
Login to your Screening SA account to apply for a check.
You'll need to:
- verify your ID
- pay a fee with your credit card, if there is one – see fees (on this page).
Recover your account
- To recover your account, go to the Screening SA login page.
- Click on ‘Forgot your username/password?’ then select ‘Forgot username’.
- Enter the email address you used for your last application, then click ‘Send username’.
- You’ll get an email with your username. Go back to the login screen, click ‘Forgot username/password’ again and select the ‘Forgot password option’.
- Enter the username you received in the email. Click reset password
- You’ll get another email with a link to reset your password. Once you create a password you’ll be able to access your screening account.
If you aren’t sure which email you have used, contact the Screening Unit.
Or log in using Digital ID
The Screening Unit uses the Australian Government Digital ID System to verify users. You can use your Digital ID account instead of logging into Screening SA.
Open the Screening SA login page then click ‘Continue with Digital ID’.
Follow the prompts to create or use a Digital ID to access your individual screening account.
You will need a Basic, Standard or Strong Digital ID to access your account.
For more information about Digital ID, visit www.digitalidsystem.gov.au
Create a screening account
Do not create an account if you've had a screening check in the past. Follow the steps to recover your account instead. If you aren't sure, contact the Screening Unit.
To create an account you’ll need to:
- provide your name and date of birth
- enter your personal email – do not use a shared email, it must be unique to you
- create a password
- verify your email.
Who should apply
You need a Working with Children Check if you:
- work with children
- volunteer with children
- are a tertiary student who will do placements that require you to work with children.
Your employer, the organisation you volunteer with, or your tertiary education provider will tell you if you need a WWCC.
For more information see who needs a WWCC.
You cannot withdraw your application for a WWCC once it is submitted. We must complete a check when an application is made.
Fees and refunds
You'll need to pay the fee online when you apply.
Employees
$140
Tertiary students
$71
If you need more than one type of screening check for an official placement connected to your studies, you only need to pay the fee once if you submit all applications on the same day
Students doing paid work with children must apply for a check as an employee and pay the relevant fee.
Volunteers
Free for volunteers, foster carers and secondary students on work experience.
Refunds
The WWCC application fee is non-refundable.
If you apply twice, become prohibited, select 'paid employment' by mistake on your application form, or your application is cancelled because you fail to disclose a maiden name or any previous names, you will not get a refund.
Applications must also be submitted within 28 days of starting. If an incomplete application automatically cancels after 28 days, there is no refund.
You cannot withdraw your application for a WWCC once it is submitted. We must complete a check when an application is made.
What happens next
You'll get an email notification once you’ve submitted your application.
Most applications are completed within 4 weeks. Processing can take longer if you have relevant criminal history. You'll be contacted if the Screening Unit needs more information.
Once the check is complete, you’ll be able to access it by logging into your Screening SA account.
If your employer or organisation started your application for you, they will be notified of the outcome.
Overseas applicants
If you live outside of Australia you can still apply for a screening check. See overseas applicants for screening checks.
What is checked
The Screening Unit gathers information from a range of sources. This includes:
- an expanded Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check that shows:
- national convictions – withdrawn, spent, non-convictions
- national charges – pending, withdrawn, dismissed, acquitted
- court sentencing remarks
- national police apprehension reports
- South Australian Government agencies related to care concerns and investigations, including the Department for Child Protection
- assessable information in accordance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016
- information provided by you.
Spent convictions
There are laws for when an individual’s older, less serious convictions (or findings of guilt) are no longer shown on their criminal record. This is called a ‘spent conviction’. The South Australian law for these ‘spent convictions’ is the Spent Convictions Act 2009.
Some convictions are never spent, such as sex offences and convictions with sentences of more than 12 months imprisonment for adults, or 24 months imprisonment for juveniles.
Spent convictions do not show on a national police check. However, the law says they can be included for checks of people working or volunteering with children, people with disability, vulnerable people, or in the aged care sector.
Interstate offences
There are spent conviction laws covering federal and state-based offences in every state and territory. The Australian Government also has overarching laws about how old conviction information is collected, used and shared.
Contact the police of the state or territory in which the offence was committed to get more information about their information release policies and legislation.
If you have criminal history
Having a criminal record does not necessarily mean you’ll be prohibited from working with children. You can still apply for a Working with Children Check. The outcome of the check will depend on the type of criminal record or assessable information you have.
There are certain prescribed offences that lead to an automatic prohibition of working with children. These are defined in the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016.
If you have a WWCC exclusion, bar or ban (however described) in another state or territory, you’ll be automatically prohibited from working with children in South Australia.
Other offences and assessable information require risk assessment.
There are many factors that are considered during a risk assessment.
The risk assessment process is explained in the Working with Children Check guidelines (470.8 KB PDF).
We'll notify you if your application results in an automatic prohibition or must undergo a risk assessment.
Your right to procedural fairness
When you lodge a Working with Children Check, NDIS Worker check or an Aged Care Sector Employment check application, we gather information from a range sources. This may include:
- police
- courts
- government agencies, such as the Department for Child Protection
- non-government organisations.
If we receive information that raises concerns about you working with vulnerable people, we'll let you know. You’ll get an opportunity to give us more information before we make a final decision. This is your chance to tell your side of the story in your own words and explain why you believe you should be able to work with vulnerable people.
It's important that you respond by the due date we give you. If we don't hear from you, your application will be finalised using the information we have.
If you already have a current check this due date is 7 days.
Legal advice
Consider seeking legal advice if you have criminal or child protection history. Free advice is available from:
The Legal Services Commission
Phone: 1300 366 424
Online: Legal Services Commission of SA
The Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement – for Aboriginal applicants only
Phone: 1800 643 222
Online: Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement
Contact
enquiries@workerscreening.sa.gov.au
Contact the Screening Unit
Phone
1300 321 592
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
In person
You can only contact the Screening Unit by phone or email.
