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Working with Children Check

Important Club Update

Just collecting WWC numbers from your club’s workers (volunteers & paid) is not enough.  Clubs must also verify WWC numbers in the online WWC system and record the details.

Why is verifying WWC numbers important?

  1.  It ensures that the worker’s WWC clearance is still valid; and
  2.  It creates a link between your club, the worker and the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) which will enable the OCG to notify your club if that person ever becomes barred from working with children.

The OCG has been unable to notify many clubs and organisations that some workers have become barred since being issued with their WWC number.   As a result, the OCG is now commencing a compliance program and will be auditing clubs and organisations for verification compliance.

Verifying WWC Numbers is a legal requirement and fines can be issued for not verifying.

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 MPIO or Secretary or email the OCG)
  • If your club is not registered in the WWC system yet – register here
  • Once you have accessed 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, WWC number and 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 make a record of the verification details.
  • The person can then commence working or volunteering at your club.

Record Keeping – If you don’t have a verification records form or spreadsheet in place already, download the Verification Records Template below.

Verification Results – If a verification result other than CLEARED or IN PROGRESS occurs, click here to go to How to Verify a worker or volunteer and view the Status Table.  A person with a result other than Cleared or In Progress cannot work or volunteer with children.

Apply for a Working with Children Check

CLICK TO APPLY for a Working with Children Check

To complete the process you will need to visit a NSW Service Centre to provide proof of ID and pay an $80 fee if you are a paid worker.  There is no fee for volunteers.

Update or Renew your WWC

WWCC GUIDELINES

For Clubs, Associations and Referee Branches

For Workers (Volunteers and Paid employees)

What you need to know when working with Kids
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.  Volunteers and paid workers should act professionally at all times and maintain the highest standard of personal behavior. While working with children, adults should never engage in (i) any discussion of a sexual nature with a child or in the presence of a child, (ii) any sexual activity with or near the child, (iii) use or promotion of illicit drugs or alcohol, (iv) smoke, (v) engage in acts of violence, or (vi) swear or use obscene language at a child.

Resources for Working with Kids
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

  • Parents volunteering at an overnight camp or tour involving children under 18 years of age
  • 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 (ref FNSW Policy)
  • Referees are NOT exempt (ref FNSW Policy)
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

 

 

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