A WWCC is a check that the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) does. It aims to protect children under 18 by checking people who:
This fact sheet explains when you need one, how to apply for one, and what happens after you apply.
For example, if you work or volunteer:
You usually don’t need one if you volunteer at a place where your child, or a child who is your close relative, goes.
You are usually an authorised carer if you care for children in your home as a guardian, under a kinship arrangement or as a foster carer.
If you want to be an authorised carer, and other adults live in your home, they’ll need a WWCC too even if those adults are your own children.
You usually don’t need a WWCC:
You can apply online at www.ocg.nsw.gov.au
After you’ve done this take your identity documents to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) or Service NSW Centre to show you are who you say you are.
If you don’t have the internet go to RMS or Service NSW Centre with your identity documents to apply.
Make sure both your IDs spell your name the same way.
Ask RMS if you have any questions.
It’s free if you are a volunteer, an authorised carer or an adult living in an authorised carer’s home.
For everyone else please check the OCG website.
You may be able to get a WWCC even if you have a criminal record. The OCG will look at your criminal history. If they think you won’t be a risk to children then you can still get a WWCC.
Yes. But sometimes the employer or place where you want to volunteer may not allow you to start until you get a WWCC.
If FACS or another agency placed a child with you, you must apply to become an authorised carer no later than 5 days after the child comes to live with you.
The OCG will check if you have ever been charged with, or convicted of, a criminal offence―even if a court dismissed the charges or said you were not guilty.
The OCG will give you a WWCC unless:
Sometimes the OCG will put an ‘interim bar’ on you. This means that you can’t work or volunteer with, or care for, children while the OCG decides if they will give you a WWCC.
This is when the OCG looks at your criminal history or workplace misconduct record to decide if you would be a risk to children.
They can look at:
They will also look at:
The OCG will write to you to tell you what information they have about you. They will ask you to explain what you have been doing since the offence or allegation.
Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.
You may be able to appeal the OCG’s decision, but you only have 28 days to do that.
You can get more information about appeals in the Legal Aid NSW fact sheet Not happy with a WWCC decision?
No. You will have to wait 5 years to apply again unless you can show the OCG that there has been a big change in your life that means you are not a risk to children.
It lasts for 5 years. You need to apply again every 5 years if you want to keep working or volunteering with, or caring for, children.
The OCG can cancel your WWCC if they think you are a risk to children.
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