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The WWC Check, National Police Certificate, the National Police Check for Volunteers and the State Traffic Certificate.

As well as the Working with Children Check, there are three other checks available in Western Australia which have different purposes, target groups and features.
These are:

  • The National Police Check for Volunteers
  • The National Police Certificate
  • The State Traffic Certificate

The WWC Check is different to both the National Police Certificate and the National Police Check for Volunteers.

The WWC Check is only concerned with identifying whether someone's criminal history indicates that a child could be harmed.  If employers and organisations have reasons for screening which are in addition to the safety of children, they may require two checks to be undertaken.  For example, where a position involves working with money as well as children, the employer will want to know about convictions for theft or fraud, and only the National Police Check will provide this information.  An employer whose staff or volunteers transport children may also want to check for traffic convictions and this can be done through a State Traffic Certificate.

There are also some roles involving contact with children that are not classified as 'child-related work'.  Where employees or volunteers are not in child-related work, including those exempt from the WWC Check, it is recommended employers consider seeking a National Police Certificate or National Police Check for Volunteers to assess any risks.

Other risk management steps

It is important to note that any type of criminal record check is only one of the measures that responsible employers/volunteer coordinators put in place to ensure their employees and volunteers are suitable to work with children, vulnerable adults and the general community.

Other necessary procedures include:

  • rigorous recruitment and selection practices, including thorough referee checks
  • good supervision and training
  • policies that create a safe and supportive environment
  • a culture which ensures that concerns are heard.

Further information

More information about child safe and child friendly organisations is available on Child Safe and Friendly Organisations Factsheet and for adults at www.communities.wa.gov.au

For more information on the different features of all four criminal record screening checks, their target groups, and how to access the checks, click here.