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Working with Children Check Policy

Applicable to: This policy is applicable to WA health entities.

Description: The Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 (WWC Act) sets out the requirements for compulsory screening of individuals who engage in paid or unpaid child- related work, referred to as a Working with Children Check (WWC Check). WA health entities are responsible for complying with the WWC Act, and serious penalties including fines and imprisonment apply for non-compliance.

The Department CEO, as the System Manager, is committed to the protection of children across the WA health system.

The Working with Children Check (WWC) Policy sets out the minimum requirements with which the WA health entities must comply to ensure a consistent approach to meeting the requirements of the WWC Act. This policy serves to support a systemwide approach to the protection of children, as one aspect of mitigating risks to the safety of children. WA health entities employ other risk mitigation strategies for the protection of children outside of WWC processes.

To reduce the risk of harm to children, WA health entities are committed to ensuring that only individuals who have WWC Check evidence, including a valid WWC Card or a valid receipt for a WWC application, undertake child-related work, as defined by the WWC Act. There are many roles involving contact with children that do not meet the definition of child-related work as defined by the WWC Act. Under the WWC Act, it is unlawful for employers to require WWC Checks for individuals who are not engaged in child-related work. ‘Blanket approaches’ where all individuals, or groups of individuals, are required to apply for a WWC Check, regardless of whether the individual engages in child-related work or not, must not be applied.

This policy must be read in conjunction with Government Sector Labour Relations (formerly Public Sector Labour Relations), Working with Children Checks Policy.

This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers (HSPs) under the Employment Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(f) of the Health Services Act 2016 (HS Act).

This policy is also a mandatory requirement for the Department of Health pursuant to section 29 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (PSM Act).

This policy supersedes OD 0454/13 WA Health Working with Children Check Policy.

Date of effect: 23 December 2022

Policy Framework

Related documents

Supporting information

wa.gov.au