NSW OCG Announcement – 27 March 2020
WWC Expiry Dates Extended due to COVID-19
The Children’s Guardian has extended all WWC Numbers that were due to expire from 26 March 2020 to 26 September 2020 for a further six months. The six-month period applies from the date of the person’s current expiry date. Further extensions may be applied should they be needed. To check when your WWC Number expires, visit the NSW OCG website
NSW OCG Face-to-face Training suspended due to COVID-19
All NSW OCG face-to-face training has been suspended until further notice. In the meantime, free online training is available for Child Safe programs.
Applying for a Working with Children Check
- Apply online for your WWC Check
- Visit a NSW Service Centre to provide Proof of Identity and pay an $80 fee if you are a paid worker. Applicants are required to provide 4 (four) proof of identity documents. If you are unable to provide these documents phone the NSW OCG on 02 8219 3777 for assistance. There is no fee for volunteers, however proof of identity is still required.
CLICK HERE to apply online for a Working with Children Check
Renew or Find your WWC Number
Sport Organisations MUST verify WWC Numbers
ALL clubs, associations, branches and referee branches must verify the WWC Numbers of their workers and volunteers in the online working with children check system.
WWC Numbers must be verified online because:
- It confirms that the person’s WWC Number is still valid
- Once you verify a person’s WWC Number, if that person is charged by Police with a child related (barring) offence, your organisation will be notified that the person is barred and is no longer permitted to work or volunteer with children.
- It is a legal requirement in NSW that all sport organisations verify WWC numbers of their workers and volunteers. Sport clubs can be fined up to $10,000 and reported to Police if they are found to be non compliant with the WWC Check requirements.
- Clubs can be audited through the NSW OCG compliance program.
How to verify a WWC Number
- Go to the Employer log in and verify page
- Enter in your Club’s username and password to access the system
- if you are unsure of the username and password ask your club Secretary or email the OCG
- If your club is not registered in the WWC system – register here
- Once you have entered the Log in and Verify page, select the Verify Working With Children Check status tab at the top
- Enter the worker’s Surname, birth date and WWC number, tick the I’m not a robot box, then click VERIFY.
- Once you click Verify, a short report will be generated indicating the person’s status.
- If the result is CLEARED or IN PROGRESS, you then record of this in your WWC verification records and the worker can then commence working with children.
- If the result is NOT FOUND, you will need to check the person’s name, date of birth and WWC number again and ensure that the person has been to a NSW Service centre and completed their application. The system will not recognise the application until the process is complete.
WWC Verification Records – If you don’t have a verification records spreadsheet in place already, download the Verification Records template to record the details of each verification.
For further information go to How to Verify a worker or volunteer.
WWC Guidelines
For Clubs, Associations and Referee Branches
- WWC Guidelines for Clubs, Associations and Referee Branches
- FNSW Working with Children Check Policy
- Verification Records template Guide
- Verification Records template – template downloads as an Excel spreadsheet
For Workers (Volunteers and Paid employees)
- WWC Guidelines for Coaches, Managers, Referees, Volunteers & Employees
- If you are paid, you must apply for a Paid WWC Check.
- If you are a volunteer, apply for a Volunteer WWC Check.
- When applying for a WWC Check, the sector is ‘Clubs and Other Bodies providing services to children’
What you need to know when Working with Kids
- Football NSW Working with Kids Handbook
- FFA National Member Protection Policy
- Child Protection
- Online education courses
- Coaching courses & workshops
- Common Issues
- Managing Poor Behaviour
- Maintaining Appropriate Boundaries
- How Poor Sideline Behaviour effects Kids
- Why Kids Play Sport
- e-Safety – Creating an e-Safe team culture
- Injury Prevention
- First Aid
Maintaining professional boundaries
A relationship between an adult and a child is not a relationship between equals. Adults have a responsibility to ensure that this unequal balance of power is not used for their personal advantage. Adults must never do anything that can cause harm to a child or young person. It is important to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and avoid behavior which might be misinterpreted by the child or other individuals. Sport volunteers and paid workers should act professionally at all times and maintain the highest standard of personal behavior. When holding an official volunteer or paid position in sport, adults should be good role models and never engage in any discussion of an inappropriate nature with children. Adults involved in sport should never engage in discussions of a sexual nature with a child or in the presence of a child or any sexual activity with or near the child, use or promote illicit drugs or alcohol or any illegal substance, smoke, engage in acts of violence, swear or use obscene language at a child, organise or attend social events with junior players, officials or referees other than those which are official club/branch events, transport children in your vehicle without the consent of the child’s parent and the club. For further information view Maintaining Appropriate Boundaries
WWC Exemptions
Exempt from the WWCC
- Persons under 18 years of age
- Grounds persons
- Guest presenters or speakers for a one-off presentation
- Persons who work or volunteer with children visiting NSW from another State to attend an event where the work in NSW will be for no more than 30 days in a calendar year.
Not exempt from the WWCC
The following are not exempt from the WWCC if they are working or volunteering with a team, club, association, branch, referee branch, futsal club, futsal centre or program affiliated to or operating under under the auspices of Football NSW:
- Parents volunteering at an overnight camp or tour involving children under 18 years of age are NOT exempt
- Police Officers, Corrections Officers and School Teachers are NOT exempt
- Committee members are NOT exempt, even if their own child attends the club
- Parents coaching or managing their own child’s team are NOT exempt
- Referees are NOT exempt
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I apply for a WWC number?
Click here to Apply for a Working with Children Check
Q2: Who requires a WWC number?
The following are required to obtain a WWCC and provide their WWC number to their club or other entity they are registering with:
- All paid persons working with children under 18 years of age
- All parents volunteering at an overnight camp or tour involving children aged under 18 years ‘NEW’
- All coaches, managers working in paid or volunteer role with children under 18 years
- All technical directors working in a paid or volunteer role with children under 18 years
- All referees (except those under 18 years of age)
- All committee members of organisations with participants aged under 18 years of age
- All Member Protection Information Officers (MPIOs)
- Persons in any other child related roles not listed unless exempt.
Q3: Paid or Volunteer WWCC?
Persons working in paid capacity or are self-employed apply for PAID Working With Children Check. Paid work includes any form of remuneration such as in cash, in kind, honorariums, allowances, gift vouchers, reduced player fees and any other forms of payment.
- A paid Working With Children Check is valid for both paid and volunteer work.
- A volunteer Working With Children Check is for volunteer work only.
Q4: How much does a WWCC cost?
- A ‘paid’ WWC costs $80 and is renewed every 5 years.
- A ‘volunteer’ WWC is free and is renewed every 5 years.
The $80 fee is paid at a NSW Service Centre when providing proof of ID for your application.
The WWC is free for volunteers, no payment is required when providing proof of ID at a NSW Service Centre.
Q5: How long does a WWC number last?
A WWC number lasts 5 years.
Q6: Why do applicants need to attend a NSW Service Centre?
After completing a WWC application online, applicants will receive an APP (application) number. Applicants must then take their APP Number to a NSW Service Centre and show proof of identification to complete the application process. Applicants for a ‘paid’ WWC will also be required to pay $80 at the NSW Service Centre.
Q7: How long after attending a NSW Service Centre will an applicant receive a WWC Number?
Applicants usually receive their WWC Number by email within approximately 7 days after attending a NSW Service Centre. Some applications can take longer if further clarification of ID or further information is required.
Q8. What does a WWC Number look like?
- Paid WWC Number – WWC123456E (‘E’ is for employed)
- Volunteer WWC Number – WWC1234567V (‘V’ is for volunteer)
Q9: Can a volunteer WWC Number be used for a paid role?
No, a volunteer WWC Number can only be used for a volunteer role.
If a person’s status changes from volunteer to paid, the person completes a Change of Details request on-line and then attends a NSW Service Centre to provide proof of ID and pay the $80 fee for a ‘paid’ WWC.
Q10. Can a paid WWC Number be used for a volunteer position?
Yes, a paid WWC Number that ends in an ‘E’ can be used for both paid and volunteer positions.
Q11: What if a person refuses to provide a WWC number to their club, association, centre or branch?
Unfortunately, where a person is unable to satisfy the requirements of the NSW Working with Children Check or the FNSW WWC Policy, they are not permitted to work or volunteer in a child related role within FNSW.
Q12: Why are most Referees required to apply for a Paid WWCC?
Most referees are paid to referee and paid referees are required to apply for a ‘paid’ WWCC. Any form of remuneration in return for refereeing is deemed to be payment, including payment in cash or kind, allowances, gift vouchers or other forms of payment. The requirement to obtain a ‘paid’ WWCC still applies even if a referee claims his/her payments as a ‘hobby’ using a hobby declaration form. If income derived from refereeing is declared by the individual as taxable income, the cost of the WWCC may be tax deductible but the referee must obtain their own taxation advice in this regard. Referees who are volunteer referees and receive no payment or remuneration in return for refereeing can apply for a ‘volunteer’ WWCC. Referee’s under 18 years of age are exempt and cannot apply for a WWC.
Member Protection Information Officers
It is a mandatory requirement of FNSW that every club, association and referee branch has at a minimum of one (1) Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO). All MPIOs are required to have a WWC Number. Click here for further information about Member Protection Information Officers
WWC Compliance Audits and Fines
Failure to obtain WWC Numbers from workers and volunteers in child related roles, verify all WWC Numbers obtained and keep a record of all WWC employee and volunteer verifications can result in significant Government fines and a non-compliance notification to NSW Police.
Failure by an individual who holds a WWC Number to keep their personal details updated in the WWC system can result in a NSW Government fine.
It is a requirement of Football NSW that all clubs, associations, referee branches and participants are compliant with the FNSW WWC Policy.
It is a legal requirement that all clubs, associations, referee branches and individuals working or volunteering with children are compliant with the NSW Working with Children Check.
The NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian and Football NSW reserve the right to conduct compliance audits on any club, association, branch, futsal centre or referee branch affiliated to FNSW.
Child Safe Clubs
Click here to information about Child Safe clubs & organisations
