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The Working with Children Check application process

Find out all the details about the process of applying for a Working with Children Check.

Working with Children Check transactions online at Service Victoria

Go to Service Victoria

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How to apply for a Check

Working with Children transactions are available online via Service Victoria.

To apply online at Service Victoria, you will need to verify your identity with two documents:

One document from Group A, AND one document from Group B.

GROUP A (need 1 of these) AND GROUP B (need 1 of these)
- Australian driver licence - Australian driver learner permit, or - Medicare card. - Australian passport that has not expired for more than 3 years - Australian birth certificate that is not handwritten - Foreign passport linked to a valid Australian visa - Valid ImmiCard, or - Australian citizenship certificate.

Examples of identity documents

Open all

GROUP A (must have 1 of these)
Australian driver licence
Australian driver learner permit
Medicare card
GROUP B (must have 1 of these)
Australian passport that has not expired for more than 3 years
Australian birth certificate that is not handwritten
Valid ImmiCard
Australian citizenship certificate
Foreign passport linked to a valid Australian visa Missing media item.

If you do not have the two required documents to verify your identity online, you mayverify your identity in-person at Australia Post.

How long it takes to complete a Check

Generally, applications take 3-12 weeks to process. This is due to the extensive National Criminal History Check where we look for offences that may indicate a risk to the safety of children.

Applications may take less than this time if the Check comes back with no criminal history. In this instance, an applicant passes the Working with Children (WWC) Check.

If there is an offence history, we will investigate if there is a risk to the safety of children. These applications will take longer to process.

Please note that if you have a common name, the National Criminal History Check may take longer because there are more possible name matches.

Working whilst the application is being processed

The Act allows most people to do child-related work during the screening process that takes place once an application for a Check is lodged. However, by law, you must not work if you:

Ask your organisation about working during the screening process, as some organisations only allow applicants to work after they have passed the Check.

What if I get a request for more information?

There are situations where we might need to get some more information from you in order to process your application, for example when:

We might also seek additional information about you from other sources when assessing your application, including:

If you fail to respond to our request within 28 days, or any longer period we specify in the request, your application will be withdrawn or revoked.

You should show your Working with Children Check or approved application receipt email to every organisation that you will do child-related work with before you start work.

Both you and any organisations engaging you in child-related work are responsible for making sure that:

If you have a criminal record or a relevant disciplinary or regulatory finding

Not all offences and relevant disciplinary or regulatory findings mean that you pose an unjustifiable risk to the safety of children in accordance with the Act. Whether you pass or fail the Check depends on:

It is unlawful to apply for a Check if you:

You may wish to seek independent legal advice about your personal circumstances.

If you don’t pass the Check

If we believe you pose an unjustifiable risk to children, we will notify you that we intend to prohibit you from working with children by issuing you an Interim WWC Exclusion. This gives you the opportunity to ask us to consider the reasons why you think you should pass the Check.

If, after considering your reasons, you fail the Check, we will issue you with a WWC Exclusion prohibiting you from working with children.

In limited circumstances, you can appeal our decision by applying to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) within 28 days of the date on the WWC Exclusion.

You many not apply to VCAT for a review of our decision if you have at any time been charged with, convicted or found guilty of a category A offence and were an adult at the time of the offence or alleged offence.

For more information on category A offences see the List of offences.

WWC Exclusions

If you fail the Check you will be given a WWC Exclusion, which means you can’t do child-related work, effective from the date listed on the notice.

A copy of your WWC Exclusion is sent to all organisations you have listed with us, but they are not told of the reason for the WWC Exclusion. By law, you must (in writing) tell all organisations where you do child-related work about the WWC Exclusion within seven days of being given notice of the WWC Exclusion.

If you get a WWC Exclusion, you can’t apply for a Check again for five years, from the date of the notice, unless your circumstances change. If you apply after this time, by law you must not do any child-related work until you pass the Check.

If you receive a WWC Exclusion, in limited circumstances and within 28 days of the date of the notice, you may apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review the decision to give you the WWC Exclusion.

You may not apply to VCAT for a review of the decision if you have at any time been charged with, convicted or found guilty of a category A offence and were an adult at the time of the offence or alleged offence.

How we protect your privacy

We are bound by privacy and confidentiality laws. The Worker Screening Act 2020, Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and Health Records Act 2001 regulate how we collect and use personal information. We must notify your organisation/s:

If you remove any organisation/s from your records, we have the power to notify these organisations that you have removed them. We will not provide your organisation with the details of your criminal or disciplinary or regulatory conduct records.

Your personal information

To assess your suitability to have a Check, we may release your personal information to or seek additional information from the following organisations:

If you would like to access the information gathered about you for the Check, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner website and they can help.

Law, crime & justice

Updated 13 February 2026

Working with Children Check transactions online at Service Victoria

Go to Service Victoria

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