- Working with Children (WWC) Day promotes awareness of the WWC Check across the State
- “Explore the Check” outreach program promotes the Cook Government’s reforms to better protect children by making it harder for people who have committed certain offences or engaged in certain conduct to obtain a WWC Check
- Reforms to strengthen the WWC legislation, which came into effect on 1 July 2023
Western Australian organisations will bolster their understanding of how changes to the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 better protect children to mark the inaugural Working with Children (WWC) Day.
WWC Day was introduced to engage with stakeholders and the wider community on the Cook Government’s amendments to strengthen the WWC legislation, which came into effect on 1 July 2023.
The reform was designed to ensure greater protection of children by making it harder for people who have committed certain offences or engaged in certain conduct to obtain a WWC Check.
Amendments to the legislation include expanding the list of criminal offences that trigger an automatic Negative Notice, which makes it an offence to carry out child-related work.
It also ensures a person’s suitability to keep their WWC Card is reassessed if that person has a relevant change in their criminal history or a conduct review outcome.
WWC Day backs in a new social media child safety campaign, “Strengthens Protections for Children”, launched last month, which aims to raise awareness about how changes to the WWC legislation ensures children are better protected.
In addition, information sessions and workshops are being run by the WWC Screening Unit to gauge the experiences of key stakeholders with the WWC Check one year on from the amendments.
The sessions complement the ongoing 2024 “Explore the Check” outreach program, which commenced earlier this year to support the needs of regional and remote WA.
WWC Day and the “Explore the Check” outreach program are important engagement initiatives to increase awareness and understanding of individual and organisation WWC obligations.
For employees, volunteers, or organisations who breach their WWC Check obligations, fines of up to $60,000 and five years’ imprisonment may apply.
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As stated by Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton:
“Protecting children from harm is a priority of the Cook Labor Government.
“The Working with Children Check is one of the most powerful ways we can ensure organisations are child safe.
“For the Working with Children Check to be effective, it requires awareness, understanding and action from the sector and wider community.
“Working with Children Day plays an important role in promoting individual and organisation obligations under the Working with Children legislation.
“Protecting children is everyone’s business, and I encourage everyone to ensure they are aware of their Working with Children Check obligations.”
