Commencing 19th October 2026, Victoria is further strengthening the Working with Children (WWC) Check with the introduction of:
- WWC Connect online service, to help organisations (including clubs) meet the new legal requirement to notify the Social Services Regulator about workers and volunteers they engage to work with children
- new mandatory child safety training for people applying for or renewing their WWC Clearance.
Together, these changes will strengthen the safeguards that help organisations make safer decisions about the people they engage to work or volunteer with children.
Mandatory training module
Mandatory Working with Children child safety training has been introduced from 19 October 2026.
The training is mandatory for:
- new WWC Check applicants
- people renewing their WWC Clearance.
- people changing from a volunteer WWC Clearance to employee WWC Clearance.
They must complete the training before their WWC Check application can be finalised.
The training is an online, self-paced course that takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. It is suitable for all sectors and settings that need a WWC Clearance. An offline paper-based version of the training is also available.
The training will cover:
- the role we all play in keeping children safe
- respectful and appropriate behaviour with children
- the prevalence of child abuse in society
- recognising concerning behaviour and grooming risk factors
- responding and acting when concerned about a child’s safety.
The training will help build a consistent understanding of child safety responsibilities across Victoria’s child-related workforce.
Learn more: https://www.vic.gov.au/mandatory-child-safety-training-working-children-clearance-holders
Working With Children Connect
WWC Connect has been introduced from 19 October 2026.
WWC Connect is a new online service that will enable organisations (including clubs) to connect workers they engage for child-related work. This will help organisations provide accurate information to the Social Services Regulator about the people they engage in child-related work and receive notifications if a worker or volunteer’s WWC Clearance status changes.
The information workers need to include in WWC Connect:
- Name
- WWC Check card number
- Address
- Telephone number
There is a bulk upload template available once your organisation is set up to allow uploading batches of personnel at a time.
What organisations will need to do in October to comply with the new requirements
1. Check – use the WWC status checker to verify a person’s WWC Clearance before engaging them in child-related work.
2. Connect – when ready to formally engage, connect them to your organisation using WWC Connect.
3. Record – keep appropriate records to show you have completed the required checks and connection.
4. Maintain – keep your WWC Connect records up to date as workers start or stop doing child-related work for you and if their contact details change.
Organisations are also strongly encouraged to connect their existing workers and volunteers. This will provide a more complete view of your child-related workforce. It will help ensure you receive notifications if someone’s WWC Clearance status changes.
Learn more about WWC Connect:
- https://www.vic.gov.au/working-children-connect
- https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/business/working-with-children-connect/faq#h2-22
Learn how to set up your organisation and connect your personnel: https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/business/working-with-children-connect
For queries about the changes to the WWC Check, email [email protected] or call 1300 310 778.
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