National continuous checking system to support national WWCC reform

The Australian Government has announced an investment of $37 million over five years to support the national reform of the Working with Children Check (WWCC) system. The funding will underpin the development of a national framework named the National Continuous Checking Capability (NCCC), which is designed to provide continuous, near‑real‑time monitoring of criminal‑history information for WWCC holders. 

The funding commitment is part of a broader national agreement endorsed by the Standing Council of Attorneys‑General (SCAG), which sets out the pathway and timelines for a consistent national approach to WWCCs. Key features include:

• A pilot rollout of the NCCC commencing late 2025 across states and territories. 
• Mutual recognition of negative WWCC decisions: five jurisdictions have already implemented this, with three more committing legislation in 2025.
• Alignment of risk‑assessment frameworks across jurisdictions, plus improved information‑sharing pathways between jurisdictions. 

The WWCC reform is aligned with the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021‑2030 and supports safety measures in ECEC settings. 

For service providers, approved‑providers and early‑learning settings, the national reform offers a number of implications:

• A more consistent national WWCC regime may reduce jurisdictional complexity and administrative burden for multi‑state operators.
• The NCCC system will enable faster updates of relevant worker‑screening information, which supports risk management and compliance obligations under the Education and Care Services National Regulations (specifically under Regulation 168(2)(e) relating to suitability of staff).
• Services should plan for potential changes in screening, workforce onboarding and inter‑jurisdictional recognition of check outcomes.

The funding begins from 2025‑26, and jurisdictions will begin onboarding the NCCC pilot from the end of 2025. States and territories are responsible for implementing the detailed frameworks, while the Commonwealth will oversee capability development and system integration.