About Working with Children Week 2023

What is Working with Children Week?

Working with Children Week started in 2021 as a week-long focus on child-related workers and the processes that help them keep our children safe.

This annual event raises awareness of key child safe requirements in NSW, including the Working with Children Check and the Child Safe Standards.

This year, NSW is celebrating its third Working with Children Week in recognition of more than 1.8 million workers and volunteers who contribute to the lives of the state’s children in education, sports, arts and community organisations.

2023 theme: suitable and supported staff

Child safe capability and culture is important to make sure all staff can effectively perform their role in keeping children and young people safe. More than 1.8 million people hold a NSW Working with Children Check clearance for volunteer or paid work. Organisations must do their part to make sure the staff working with children are suitable and supported by:

• Emphasising child safety in recruitment, including advertising and screening 
• Verifying online the Working with Children Check number of volunteers and paid workers
• Providing an appropriate induction so that all staff understand their child safety responsibilities
• Supervising and supporting staff to encourage child safe practices

Be proactive about keeping children and young people safe this Working with Children Week:

• Give your Working with Children Check (WWCC) records a health check and reach out if you need help with any part of the process. More information about WWCC Compliance for organisations
• Share or register for a WWCC webinar session on our website. 
• Use our media kit to raise awareness of and celebrate support for child safe staff in your networks.
• Celebrate examples of child safe policy and practice in your organisation with the hashtag #WWCW2023. Together we can build our capacity and keep children and young people safe.