What parents need to know about Working with Children Checks

Find out what parents can do to help create a safe environment for their children when accessing services and activities.

Who needs a WWCC

People you personally engage to work directly with your children must have a Working with Children Check.

For example, this includes:

• au pairs and nannies
• private sporting coaches such as tennis coaches
• tutors
• music teachers.

It does not include privately arranged babysitters.

If you employed the person through an organisation or agency, ask them for evidence that they have verified their employees WWCC.

Organisation responsibilities

Organisations (including sole traders) that work with or provide services to children have a duty of care to keep children safe.

In South Australia, all organisations providing services and activities to children must:

• have child-safe policies and procedures that follow state laws and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations
• have a Child Safe Environments Compliance Statement
• meet Working with Children Check obligations.

What parents can do

As a parent you’re encouraged to do some research to work out if an organisation or person is suitable for your child.

Before engaging an organisation, or employing a person directly, to work or care for your child:

• ask for copies of their policies and their Child Safe Environments Compliance Statement
• choose organisations and individuals carefully
• verify their Working with Children Check.

For advice on what to consider, look for and ask questions about, see Child Safe Organisation: guide for parents and carers (PDF 723KB).

Verify a check

To verify a person has a current WWCC and is not prohibited from working with children you will need:

• the person's full name, exactly as they provided to the Screening Unit
• their Screening Unit Unique ID – they must provide this by law
• your name
• your email address
• the reason for your search.

Verify a person's Working with Children Check through the Screening Unit

The search will not tell you any personal information about the person only the outcome of their WWCC.

Do parents need a WWCC

Parents or guardians do not require a Working with Children Check if the child-related work is:

• voluntary, and
• involving their own child.

For example, if you volunteer to coach the under 10’s netball team your child plays in, you do not require a Working with Children Check.

When parents must have a WWCC

You must have a check if the child-related work involves:

• accommodation and residential services for a child that is not your own child, like going on a school camp
• close personal contact with a child that is not your own child, such as helping a child get dressed or go to the toilet.

Reporting concerns

If you have concerns about the behaviour or conduct of the person who is working with or caring for your child, talk to that person about your concerns.

You should also advise the organisation or agency you employed them through of your concerns and details of the conversation you’ve had with the person.

Organisations that employ people to work with children have a legal obligation to notify the Screening Unit if disciplinary or misconduct proceedings are taken against an employee.

Sexual abuse

If you suspect that your child is being sexually abused contact the Child Abuse Report Line on 13 14 78.

These resources will help you recognise possible signs of sexual abuse and how to make a report:

• protecting children from child abuse – Parenting SA
• indicators of harm or risk to children and young people – Department for Child Protection.