Statutory out-of-home care and adoption

We oversee statutory out-of-home care and adoption services in NSW, helping to keep children safe when they're unable to live at home.

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To provide statutory out-of-home care or adoption services in NSW, agencies must first be accredited by the Children's Guardian. Agencies that are accredited to provide statutory out-of-home care are known as designated agencies.

Planned Carers Register Outage 26 August – 7 September

The current Carers Register will be unavailable from 5pm 26 August 2026 to prepare for the launch of the new Carers Register.

Designated agencies will not be able to log in, view, or update any carer records during this period.

Please ensure all urgent updates or data entries are finalised in the current system before 5pm 26 August.

The OCG will run and provide a comprehensive Carers Register report for all designated agencies on 27 August. This report will include (by household and individual records):

  • All historical data (end dated)
  • Current carer applications
  • All currently authorised carers
  • All currently suspended carers

Each agency must use this report to record any updates or changes to carer records that must be updated in the new Carers Register when it launches on 7 September 2026.

About statutory out-of-home care and adoption

How we accredit and monitor adoption and out-of-home care agencies.

About out-of-home care and adoption The framework and evidence we use for accreditation
Accredited agencies

Information for agencies that are accredited to provide out-of-home care or adoption services.

List of accredited agencies Information for accredited agencies Notifications Accreditation portal
Apply for accreditation to provide out-of-home care or adoption services

Information about the process agencies must follow to become an accredited provider of statutory out-of-home care or adoption services in NSW.

Apply to become an accredited statutory out-of-home care or adoption service provider Types of accreditation Enquiries
Carers and Residential Care Workers Registers

Information about the registers and guidance materials.

Carers Register Residential Care Workers Register Residential Care Workers Register training
Resources

Resources to help agencies meet their obligations and work together to keep children safe. 

Code of Practice resources Code of Practice Implementation Handbook Guides for agencies
Other information for out-of-home care and adoption services

Government and non-government organisations with resources relevant to out-of-home care and adoption.

Department of Communities and Justice My Forever Family Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) AbSec NSW SNAICC
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How to renew using digital proof of identity (POI)

You will need:

  • A MyServiceNSW account with the WWCC service added
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  • a device with a working front camera for face verification.


If you're renewing a paid WWCC, you will also need a credit card, debit card, PayPal or PayID account.

If you have an expired WWCC clearance or have changed your name on your identity documents since the last time you renewed your WWCC, you can't renew using digital proof of identity.

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