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Communications Toolkit

On this page:

1 Introduction
2 Key messages
3 Newsletter copy
4 Social Media content
5 FAQs
6 Contacts

1 Introduction

Working with Children Checks in South Australia

Stronger, more effective and transparent screening laws came into effect in South Australia on 1 July 2019, requiring any person who works or volunteers with children to have a Working with Children Check (WWCC).

Nearly 570,000 people in SA currently hold a WWCC. Over the past five years, we have prohibited just over 2,000 South Australians from working with children, making WWCCs a vital tool to protect children from adults who pose an unacceptable risk to their safety and wellbeing.

WWCC expiry

A WWCC is valid for five years. People who work with children need to apply again and receive clearance before their current WWCC expires. The Screening Unit in the Department of Human Services is preparing for an increase in WWCC applications in the lead up to July 2024 and beyond.

Employer responsibilities

Under South Australian law, it is an offence to employ, or continue to employ, a person in a prescribed position without a valid WWCC. This means employers cannot allow employees to work with children if their WWCC has expired.

Ultimately, both the worker and employer (including volunteer organisations) are responsible under the law.

This toolkit

This toolkit is designed to help employers, volunteer organisations, peak bodies, governing bodies and other groups to communicate with their employees, volunteers and members about the need for workers to apply again and receive clearance before their current WWCC expires.

It contains key messages, frequently asked questions and newsletter copy that you are free to use on your own communication platforms and channels. You can copy it exactly or tailor it to your needs.

2 Key messages

General

A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is valid for 5 years.
Workers in child-related roles need to apply again and receive clearance before their current check expires.
This includes paid workers (employees, contractors, self-employed) as well as unpaid workers (volunteers).
If your WWCC expires in the next 6 months, it’s best to apply again now.
Employers can apply on behalf of their workers or workers can apply themselves.
Employers must ensure that all workers in relevant roles hold a valid check.
WWCCs are free for volunteers and foster carers.
Learn more and apply online at sa.gov.au/screening.

Applications and ID

Allow at least 3 months for a WWCC application to be processed. Complex applications may take longer.
Workers need to verify their identity before the Screening Unit can process the application. Most people can do this online with their driver’s licence plus 1 of the following:
- Australian passport
- Australian birth certificate
- Australian citizenship certificate.

If the worker doesn’t have these documents, allow extra time to take other proof of ID to a verifying officer.

Expiration and contact

When your WWCC is about to expire, the Screening Unit will try to contact you by SMS and email – but you don’t have to wait to hear from them to apply again.
Not sure when your WWCC expires? Go online to www.sa.gov.au/screening to find out. You can also update your contact details online.
Need help? Learn more at www.sa.gov.au/screening or phone the Screening Unit in the Department of Human Services on 1300 321 592 (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm).

3 Newsletter copy

Short article

Is your Working with Children Check expiring soon ?

Did you know that Working with Children Checks (WWCC) are valid for 5 years? If you obtained a WWCC in 2019, it will expire this year. Make sure your contact details are up to date with the Screening Unit in the Department of Human Services, so they can contact you when your check is about to expire.

You must apply again and receive clearance before your check expire to continue doing child-related work in South Australia. Go to sa.gov.au/wwcc to learn more and apply online.

Long article

Time to reapply for your Working with Children Check?

Stronger, more effective and transparent screening laws came into effect in South Australia in 2019, requiring people who work or volunteer in child-related roles to have a Working with Children Check (WWCC).

A WWCC is valid for five years. If yours expires in the next six months, it’s time to apply again. You must apply for a new WWCC and receive clearance before your check expire to continue doing child-related work in South Australia.

Apply online at sa.gov.au/wwcc. You’ll need to provide:

any previous names you've had, including maiden names, aliases or nicknames
your address details for the last five years
proof of ID

Learn more at sa.gov.au/screening.

Working with Children Checks help keep kids safe in our communities. Thank you for doing your part!

4 Social Media content

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5 FAQs

How do I know when my check expires?

The Screening Unit in the Department of Human Services will try to contact you by SMS and email up to 6 months before your current check expires – but you don’t have to wait to hear from them to act. You can go online now to find out the expiry date of your check and update your contact details. Go to www.sa.gov.au/wwcc.

How do I apply for a WWCC?

Apply online at www.sa.gov.au/wwcc. You’ll need to provide:

any previous names you've had, including maiden names, aliases or nicknames
your address details for the last five years
proof of ID

Most people can verify their identity online with their driver’s licence plus 1 of the following:

Australian passport
Australian birth certificate
Australian citizenship certificate.

If you don’t have these documents, allow extra time to take other proof of ID to a verifying officer.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

Allow at least 3 months for your application to be processed. Complex applications may take longer. You must verify your ID and pay the fee (if applicable) before your application can be processed.

Will my employer apply on my behalf or should I apply myself?

Check with your manager or HR department.

Does everyone who works with children need a WWCC?

You need a Working with Children Check if you are 14 or over and you do:

child-related work as a volunteer or employee for more than seven days a year
any child-related work that involves overnight stays, or close personal contact with a child with a disability.

You also need a Working with Children Check if you run a business where employees or volunteers do child-related work.

Parents or guardians do not require a Working with Children Check if the child-related work is voluntary and involves their own child.

What is child-related work?

It can include a wide range of industries and roles, such as:

foster care and child protection services
Childcare or child-minding services
Clubs and associations with significant membership or involvement of children
Coaching or tuition services for children
Commercial services provided to children (eg, play gyms, bouncy castles, face painting, photography of children)
Disability services for children
Education services, including pre-school , primary and secondary teachers, and Department for Education employees
Emergency services
Health services for children
Justice and detention services for children
The provision of traffic control at, or other supervision of, school pedestrian crossings.
Transport services for children
Services or activities provided by religious organisations

The following is NOT child-related work:

Where the service or activity is provided for a personal or domestic service. For example, if a grandparent, aunt or uncle provides care to a child while their parent is out.
Where you employ or supervise a child in the course of a service or activity that is not child-related work. For example, the owner of, or a supervisor at, a supermarket that employs or supervises children. Here, the service being provided is not child-related work.
Where you undertake the service or activity in the same capacity as a child. For example, an adult playing in a football team alongside a child does not need a Working with Children Check (however, they do need a Working with Children Check if they are coaching or volunteering in some other capacity for the football club).

Any other service or activity in the course of which contact with children occurs incidentally or would not reasonably be expected to occur.