Parents and Community

Keeping children safe is a whole of community responsibility.  Parents make a vital contribution towards creating and maintaining child-safe and friendly environments. 

Why do certain people who work with children need a WWC Check?

The WWC Check aims to improve the safety of children in the community. It helps to ensure that people who have criminal records that indicate they may harm a child do not gain positions of trust with children in certain paid and unpaid employment and volunteer work.

Unfortunately research shows that people who want to harm children sometimes seek work that puts them in close contact with children. Obtaining WWC Checks is only one of the practices responsible employers, volunteer organisations and education providers put in place to promote safer environments for children.

For more ideas see our child safe/child friendly page.

Who needs a WWC Check?

Certain people in child-related work in Western Australia must have a WWC Check.  To find out what child-related work is click here.

Please note: certain people are exempt (do not need to have a WWC Check) and must not apply for one.

The following are some exemptions:

• Volunteers and students on unpaid placement who are under 18 years
• Parents volunteering in connection with their child, except if volunteering on overnight camps, for example a parent volunteering at a school where their child is enrolled is exempt (even if their child is not in the class they are volunteering)
• Short term vistors to Western Australia carrying out child-related work during the period of two weeks after their arrival in Western Australia, and for no more than two weeks in any period of 12 months.

For a full list of exemptions please see Factsheet 5: Child-Related Work and Exemptions.

What can you do?

Parents can ask to see the WWC Card of all self employed people who work with their children such as babysitters, nannies, counsellors, dance teachers, modelling teachers, music tutors and children’s entertainers. Some people may carry out child-related work while their WWC application is being processed. A receipt from Australia Post can be viewed as proof of their pending application.

What else can you look for when choosing a child-safe and friendly organisation for your child?

When considering the best program, activity or service for your child consider the following:

•  Ask questions - Talk with staff about their child protection policies, staff recruitment, training and supervision, their code of conduct, how they handle complaints and if they welcome parent and children's involvement.
• Look around - Take the time to have a look around, drop in at unexpected times, observe how staff respond to children's needs, consider if the children are happy and environment clean and well cared for and be sure to ask other parents what they think about the organisation and service.
• Talk with your child - Regularly ask your child about their experience of the program, activity or service and how they feel about it.
• Get involved - Taking part in your child's activities helps keep them safe and you informed of what is happening in their world.

You may also find the following websites useful:

Child wise: Information for Parents and Carers

New South Wales Commission for Children & Young People

Child Safety Commission

Safe Club 4 Kids