SA Government encourages ECEC employees to submit WWCC reapplications ASAP

The South Australian Government has encouraged those who work or volunteer with children, including in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, to check the expiry date of their Working with Children Check (WWCC) and submit their re-application as soon as possible, to ensure their screening remains up to date.

A WWCC is a legal requirement for people aged 14 and over who do child-related work in both paid and unpaid roles. The current SA WWCC system – which has checks valid for a five year period – was introduced in July 2019 and up to 150,000 renewals are expected in the coming year, on top of new applications. 

Given the significant volume of applications, and the fact that more than 40,000 renewals have already been received, the  government has been encouraging employers, workers and volunteers to apply early to make sure checks are completed by the time they are needed.

Around half of the renewal applications received thus far relate to WWCCs which expire in August or September, and have been early applications. The State Government has invested in boosting the Department of Human Services (DHS) Screening Unit team with an additional 35 staff to assist with the large number of WWCCs coming up for renewal.

“Working with Children Checks (WWCC) are an important tool to protect children from adults who would pose an unacceptable risk to their safety and wellbeing,” SA Minister for Human Services Nat Cook said.

“It is pleasing to see that so many South Australians who require a WWCC for their work or volunteer roles have submitted their reapplication before expiry, with the first five-year period expiring from 1 July 2024. I would encourage anyone with a WWCC that is going to expire in the next three months to get their application in as soon as possible to ensure their clearance is up to date.”

Thanks to the extra staff the average processing time for renewals or applications is currently around eight days for straightforward applications, however with many applications requiring detailed assessment (and therefore taking longer) South Australians are encouraged to apply for a renewal now if they have a check expiring in the coming three months.

Anyone with a WWCC that is about to expire will receive a reminder notification from the DHS Screening Unit (if they have provided up-to-date contact information).

To apply for a WWCC or to update your contact details, visit www.sa.gov.au/screening or phone the DHS Screening Unit on 1300 321 592 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).