Do you have patients under the age of 18? Are you aware of your legal obligations when coming into contact with a child within your clinic? It is very important that you are!
The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is called different things in different countries and different states. There are different processes people have to go through to get a check completed depending on where they live.
Requirements for qualifying for the working with children check or blue card vary state-to-state in Australia. Use the table below to find out more for your state.
| State/Territory | Legal Requirements |
| Australian Capital Territory | Currently there are no legal requirements for people working with children to undertake a police check in the Australian Capital Territory, however, organisations which require employees and/or volunteers to work with children may have their own policies in this regard. |
| New South Wales | The NSW Commission for Children and Young People is responsible for the Working with Children Check, which helps determine whether people are suitable to work in child related employment.This checklist aims to create workplaces where children are safe and protected, and where the people who work with children are appropriately screened. |
| Northern Territory | Currently there are no legal requirements for people working with children to undertake a police check in the Northern Territory, however, organisations which require employees and/or volunteers to work with children may have their own policies in this regard.In addition, the Northern Territory Government has released draft legislation for the creation of a screening scheme which outlines minimum standards for child-related occupations and activities. |
| Queensland | In Queensland people working or volunteering with children need to hold a Blue Card.The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian is responsible for administering and conducting criminal history checks on people who want to work with children to determine whether or not they are eligible to hold a Blue Card. |
| South Australia | Currently there are no legal requirements for people working with children to undertake a police check in South Australia, however, organisations which require employees and/or volunteers to work with children may have their own policies in this regard. |
| Tasmania | Currently there are no legal requirements for people working with children to undertake a police check in Tasmania, however, organisations which require employees and/or volunteers to work with children may have their own policies in this regard.In 2005 the Commissioner for Children Tasmania released a consultation paper discussing proposals for the Government to introduce screening procedures for Tasmanian organisations who want to employ people to work with children. |
| Victoria | The Victorian Government has introduced the Working with Children Check, which is compulsory for people who wish to work with or volunteer with children.The check seeks to protect children from harm by requiring people to undertake a criminal history check before they start work in an organisation. |
| Western Australia | In Western Australia a Working with Children Check is compulsory for people who carry out child-related work in Western Australia.The check aims to protect children by deterring people from working with children when they have criminal records that indicate they may harm children; and by preventing people with such records from gaining positions of trust in paid and voluntary work with children. |
