A guide to the different Working with Children Check (WWCC) outcomes and statuses.
- Application in progress
Meaning
A Working with Children Check application is being processed.
The applicant may work with children.
If the applicant becomes barred or is not cleared to work with children, the Office of the Children's Guardian will contact you and advise you of what to do next.
What should I do?
Verify their clearance once the employee receives their Working with Children Check number. Keep a record that you have verified the employee.
- Cleared
Meaning
This applicant has a Working with Children Check clearance that is valid until the listed expiry date in 5 years.
What should I do?
Keep a record that you have verified the employee.
- Barred
Meaning
The applicant has been barred from working with children and it is an offence to engage this person in child-related work or in a child-related role.
What should I do?
Seek legal advice and check your work’s policies but some options are:
- transfer them to a non child-related role within the business (although you are under no legal obligation to find an alternative position for a barred worker)
- suspend them from child-related work pending the outcome of an appeal (if this is an option)
- dismiss the worker
A barred person must not work with children.
Keep a record of your actions.
- Interim barred
Meaning
The applicant has been barred from working with children during the course of a risk assessment.
It is an offence to engage this person in child-related work or child-related roles until if they are cleared.
What should I do?
Your options are:
- suspend them from child-related work pending the outcome of an appeal (if this is an option)
- transfer them to a non child-related role within the business
- dismiss the worker
A person with an interim bar must not work with children.
Keep a record of your actions.
- Not found
Meaning
The database cannot find a matching Working with Children Check for any one of these reasons:
- The data entered for verification (name, date of birth and Working with Children Check number or application number) has errors
- The person's application has been withdrawn or terminated without an outcome
- The person has not completed an application for a Working with Children Check or their renewal (filled in/renewed the online form, presented proof of identity and paid any applicable fee).
What should I do?
You must not employ this person in child-related work.
- Check the number or employee’s details
- Remind the worker that they must complete their Check application and provide either the APP number or clearance number
- suspend them from child-related work until they have completed their application
- transfer them to a non child-related role within the business until they provide their APP number
- dismiss the worker if they do not make all reasonable attempts to provide an application number or Working with Children Check number
Keep a record of your actions.
- Expired
Meaning
The person’s Working with Children Check has expired.
What should I do?
You must not employ this person in child-related work until they provide you with an Application number or Working with Children Check clearance number.
- Check the number or employee’s details
- Remind the worker that they must complete their Check application and provide either the APP number or clearance number
- suspend them from child-related work until they have completed their application
- transfer them to a non child-related role within the business until they provide their APP number
- dismiss the worker if they do not make all reasonable attempts to provide an application number or Working with Children Check number
Keep a record of your actions.
- Closed
Meaning
The person’s application for a Check has been closed and is no longer being progressed.
What should I do?
You must not employ this person in child-related work.
They need to re-apply for a Working with Children Check and provide you with an Application number or Working with Children Check clearance number.
There are many reasons for an application being closed. These range from duplicate applications (in which case the applicant will have an alternative number), the identification check at Service NSW was not done in time, other names were not disclosed, information was requested and not received, or there may have been a technical glitch.
The courts cannot order the re-employment of a person for child-related work if the person is barred from working with children. Damages or compensation are not payable to a worker who has been removed from child-related work because they are barred from working with children.
