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Is a WWC Check required?

A WWC Check is required if someone has an 'agreement to work' in a role undertaking 'child-related work', and no 'exemptions' apply.

Follow the guide below to determine whether a WWC Check is required.

Question 1 - Is there an agreement to work?

If yes, move to Question 2.

If no, a WWC Check is not required.

Question 2 - Is it child-related work?       

If yes, move to Question 3.

If no, a WWC Check is not required.

Question 3 - Does an exemption apply?  

If yes, a WWC Check is not required.

If no, a WWC Check is required.

Agreement to work

An agreement to work can be a written or unwritten agreement between a person and another person or an 'organisation', to carry out 'child-related work' on a 'paid', 'unpaid' or 'volunteer' basis.

It can refer to both 'child-related employment' and a 'child-related business' as defined in the .

Child-related work

Child-related work has a specific definition in the .

Work is child-related if the 'usual duties' of the work involve or are likely to involve 'contact' with a child in connection with at least one of the categories of 'child-related work'.

Categories of child-related work

There are 18 categories of child-related work prescribed in the for general public use. 

A list of the categories can be found in Infographic CRW01 – Categories of child-related work (PDF, 646.57KB) and individual factsheets on our Resources page.

There are two additional categories of child-related work that relate specifically to staff of the WWC Screening Unit or other work as prescribed in the .

If more than one category of 'child-related work' describes the work a person does, or they have more than one child-related job then consider the following:

• If a person has a 'paid' and a 'volunteer' or 'unpaid' job in child-related work they must select the category of child-related work that applies to their paid employment and apply as a paid employee (or self-employed person).
• If a person has more than one paid, or more than one volunteer or unpaid job in child-related work then the category for which an 'exemption' does not apply is the category they should apply under.

Exemptions

Certain people do not require a WWC Check because they fit within the description of an exemption from child-related work as outlined in the  and the .

There are some general exemptions which apply across all categories of child-related work while others are specific to a particular category or circumstance.

If a person’s work is covered by an 'exemption', then they are ineligible to apply for a WWC Check. However, it is important to consider all the work a person does when deciding whether they are exempt and do not require a WWC Check.

Exemptions across all categories

Child volunteers

Applies to work carried out on a 'volunteer' basis by a 'child'. If the child is undertaking child-related work which is 'paid', then they will require a WWC Check.

Unpaid students on placement under 18 years of age

Applies to work carried out on an unpaid basis by a 'student' under 18 years of age as part of their educational or vocational course of study with an 'education provider'.

Please note people with a current 'Interim Negative Notice' or 'Negative Notice' are not eligible to access the child volunteer or unpaid students on placement under 18 years of age exemptions. Refer to Factsheet CRW04: Exemptions, Narrowing of access (PDF, 379.57KB) for more information.

Short-term visitors to WA

Applies to work carried out by visitors to WA, where the person is not ordinarily resident in WA and:

• only applies during the two-week period after the person arrives in WA
• cannot exceed a total of two weeks in any period of 12 months
• cannot be used in conjunction with the one-off national events and national tours exemption. A person cannot use both exemptions in the same 12-month period.

Exemptions for specific circumstances

• Factsheet CRW03: Exemptions, The parent volunteer exemption (PDF, 509.69KB).
• Factsheet CRW02: Exemptions, One-off national events and national tours (PDF, 377.53KB).
• Police officers when performing their duties and functions as a member of the WA Police Force, for some categories. Please check the relevant category factsheets on our Resources page.
• There are specific exemptions relating to categories 4, 5 and 18, which are outlined in the relevant category factsheets on our Resources page.

Please note people with a current 'Interim Negative Notice' or 'Negative Notice' are not eligible to access the parent volunteer exemption. Refer to Factsheet CRW04: Exemptions, Narrowing of access (PDF, 379.57KB).