The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended that state and territory governments introduce legislation to establish registers for people providing out-of-home care.
In NSW, this recommendation led to the introduction of the Residential Care Workers Register, which started operating on 18 July 2022.
The RCWR supports the safety and wellbeing of children and young people living in statutory and supported out-of-home care by helping prevent unsuitable people from moving between residential care services without their employment history being visible to designated agencies.
Under the Children's Guardian Regulation 2022, designated agencies that provide residential care must record residential care workers in the RCWR before they begin working with children in statutory or supported out-of-home care.
Residential Care Workers Register users
The Residential Care Workers Register is used by authorised users from designated agencies that provide residential care services in NSW.
The Office of the Children's Guardian also uses the register to support its regulatory and monitoring functions.
Residential Care Workers Register access
Access to the Residential Care Workers Register is available only to authorised users from designated agencies.
Access is managed by agency administrators to ensure staff have the appropriate level of access for their responsibilities.
Depending on their assigned permissions, agency users can create, view and maintain worker information, complete Working with Children Check verification, manage worker engagements, access reports, and perform administrative functions.
Residential Care Workers Register features and benefits
The Residential Care Workers Register helps designated agencies protect children and young people by supporting safer recruitment, effective workforce management and informed decision-making. A central source of worker information, integrated verification and reporting tools help agencies meet their regulatory obligations and maintain accurate worker records.
Manage worker information
Keep worker information up to date from recruitment through to the end of employment.
Support safer employment decisions
Access information and reporting that supports workforce planning, oversight and compliance.
Monitor workforce activity
Use notifications, dashboards, reports and key statistics to support agency operations and regulatory compliance.
Residential Care Workers Register training and resources
Access learning resources to help you use the Residential Care Workers Register (RCWR) confidently and effectively.
Resources include eLearning courses, quick reference guides, videos and other supporting materials for agency users and administrators.
Note: If you are new to the eLearning, complete Resource Navigation before accessing the training resources listed below.
Training resources
Introduces the Carers Register, including its purpose, legislative framework, agency responsibilities, information recording requirements, and the role of probity, suitability and information sharing in supporting child safety.
Who it's for
All designated agencies that provide or arrange foster, relative and kinship care services in NSW.
Details the process designated agencies must complete to gain access to the Carers Register.
Who it's for
All designated agencies that provide or arrange foster, relative and kinship care services in NSW
Details the end-to-end process for creating a new out-of-home care (OOHC) application, recording applicant and household member information, recording provisional authorisation details, and finalising the application.
Who it's for
Agency users with one of the following Carers Register roles:
- Primary Administrator
- General Administrator
- General User
- Dual HRE and PA
Covers administrative functions, including creating and maintaining agency user records, managing and maintaining carer, household and household member records, completing WWCC re-verification, and recording carer engagements.
Who it's for
Agency users with one of the following Carers Register roles:
- Primary Administrator
- General Administrator
- Dual HRE and PA
Explains how reportable allegation information is recorded and managed within the Carers Register to support informed authorisation decisions and the ongoing management of carers, households and household members.
Who it's for
All Carers Register users, including HREs
Contact us
Carer and Residential Worker Monitoring team: carers-register@ocg.nsw.gov.au
