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Making the decision to put your child in a child care can be a stressful time. As well as the emotional trauma of having to leave your little one all day, you may worry about them getting ill, feeling lonely or one of a hundred other concerns experienced by parents facing the prospect of leaving their child in a centre or with a nanny, au pair or babysitter for the first time.
Knowing you are leaving your child safe in the hands of qualified professionals should help ease your concerns. Working with children checks are now mandatory in most States and Territories in Australia, and these checks are working to provide a safer environment for children in child care.
Refer to the table below for an overview of the checks available in each State or Territory and to find out which agency oversees the checking process.
Remember that child care workers need to fulfil the checking and clearance requirements of the state they are working in as there are no checks required on a national basis.
| 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 |
The Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT) came into force in 2008 and covers employees and volunteers in child related employment who are now required to obtain a Clearance Notice before commencing work. The screening program is being phased in over 12 months in order to allow people already employed in child-related settings to obtain Clearance Notices.
Individual organisations may also have their own policies regarding working with children and may require employees to undergo a Police Check. For more information visit the Northern Territory Police Department. |
| 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 |
Under the Children's Protection Act (Section 8B) people in SA who work in jobs which require regular contact with children are required to obtain police clearance before they commence employment.
A National Police Certificate application form is available from the South Australian Police Department. |
| 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. |
Remember that many organisations have internal policies which require employees to undergo background checks as it protects both the children and the organisation from future problems. It is worth asking about these checking policies and procedures when you start hunting for a child care centre for your child or with the agency you have engaged. |
