An application for a NSW Working With Children Check (WWCC) clearance can be done on the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) website.
The applicant then has 28 days to present their application number at a Service NSW Centre and have their identification verified.
Once proof of identity has been submitted by the applicant, it can take up to four weeks for the OCG to receive National Police Criminal History results. Processing of the National Police Criminal History may be delayed if:
- the application form was not completed correctly
- the applicant has not included former names (including aliases) on the application form
- the applicant has a common name shared by more than one person
- the applicant has submitted both paid and volunteer applications.
The WWCC screening process checks the following groups of records:
1. The applicant's National Police Criminal History. The records that are reviewed include:
- convictions (spent or unspent)
- charges (whether heard, unheard or dismissed)
- juvenile records.
2. Any findings of reportable misconduct by a relevant entity, which include:
- Sexual misconduct committed against, with or in the presence of a child, including grooming a child
- Any serious physical assault of a child.
If some police or workplace records are identified, the OCG will review these records to see if further assessment or information is required.
If no police or workplace records are identified, the applicant is issued a WWCC clearance in NSW for five years.