WA Regulator prosecutes around WWCC lapse, issues warning to WWCC holders

A man in Western Australia has been found guilty under the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 for continuing to work with children with an expired check, despite requests from his employer to renew it. 

He was fined $500 and ordered to pay $8,000 costs to the Department of Communities, with Department of Communities Acting Executive Director Regulation and Quality Phil Payne saying the investigation and subsequent prosecution should serve as a warning to others. 

“This outcome should serve as a warning to all individuals of their responsibilities to ensure they have a current Working with Children Card (WWCC),” he said.

“The community has a right to expect that their children are safe when engaging with any person or organisation providing child-related work.” 

The court heard that despite having previously held a WWCC, the offender continued to carry on child-related work without renewing his card, despite requests from his employer to do so. 

“The WWCC is valid for three years and it is the responsibility of the individual to ensure they renew their card before it expires,” My Payne said.

“Any individual who does not reapply for a Working with Children Check and continues to work in child-related work without a current Card will be committing an offence.

Further information about Working with Children Checks and applicant and employer obligations can be obtained by visiting the Working with Children website.