As a Working with Children Clearance holder, you have legal responsibilities under the Worker Screening Act 2020 (the Act) and the Worker Screening Regulations 2021 (the Regulations).
For information on what might happen if you breach the Act or the Regulations, visit our offences and penalties page.
How we monitor your suitability to hold a Clearance
We receive ongoing notifications about new charges, offences and other relevant information for the life of your Clearance. That’s why it’s important to keep your details up to date.
If we determine that you are no longer suitable to hold a Working with Children Clearance, we will revoke your Clearance. You won’t be legally allowed to engage in child-related work.
If you hand your Clearance back to us, you won’t legally be able to do child-related work, unless an exemption under the Act applies.
If your circumstances change
You must let us and your organisation/s know in writing within seven days if your circumstances change in any of the following ways:
- you are charged with, convicted, or found guilty of a category A or B sexual, violent or drug offence (as defined in the Act), or the charge has been finally dealt with by a court in some way
- a relevant professional conduct finding is made against you
- you are subject to obligations or orders under:
Renew your Clearance
You can renew your Clearance online up to six months before it expires, and for three months after it expires.
It is illegal to do child-related work after your Clearance expires unless:
- you have lodged your renewal, or
- you now qualify for an exemption (see Exempt from requiring a Clearance).
If you still intend to do child-related work after your Clearance has expired, you need to start a new application.
Take a new photo
You might need a new photo if you have renewed your Clearance, or changed from a Volunteer Clearance to an Employee Clearance.
Replace your Card or get a digital card
You can replace a lost, stolen or damaged card online.
It costs $8.60 to replace a physical Employee card. Volunteer replacement cards are free.
Once you have completed the online form and paid the non-refundable fee, we will send you a new card in the mail.
Change your name
If you would like your Clearance changed to your new name, you can do it online.
You will need to have one of these documents:
- Marriage certificate or Change of name certificate issued by a State Registry of Birth, Deaths and Marriages
- Divorce papers linking your previous and new names
- Deed poll
- Foreign marriage certificate (translated into English by an authorised interpreter/translator service).
Update your sex descriptor
If you’d like to have your sex descriptor updated in our records, you can do so by first filling in the Change of Name’ form online.
In addition to the documents required to change your name online (see section above list), you will need to send us one of the following documents:
- A statement on letterhead from a registered medical practitioner or registered psychologist certifying your circumstances. For example, intersex, undergoing gender transitioning, indeterminate or gender diverse.
- A certified copy of your birth certificate or recognised details certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages or any other recognised authority in Australia or overseas.
- A certified copy of your current passport showing your preferred sex descriptor.
If you would like to update your photo, please provide a certified passport photo.
What you need to send us
- The printout from the online Change of Name form.
- Your document as chosen from the three options above.
- A certified passport photo if you wish to change from your current photo (optional).
Mail to:
Social Services Regulator
Worker Screening Operations Branch
GPO box 1774
Melbourne 3001
Return your Clearance
You may need to hand your Clearance back to us because:
- you’ve stopped doing paid or voluntary child-related work
- you’ve changed your name and have been issued with another valid Clearance
- the department has revoked your Clearance and told you to return it.
You don’t need to apply for a new Clearance if you change organisations. You can add your new organisation by updating your details online.
If you want to cancel your Clearance, you can do so by:
- signing a statement declaring that you are the holder of the Clearance and that you want to cancel it, or that you are returning it at the Regulator's direction
- including your current address, as the Regulator will let you know in writing when the Clearance is cancelled
- mailing your physical card and statement to us at:
Social Services Regulator
Worker Screening Operations Branch
GPO Box 1774
Melbourne 3001
We will notify the organisations you have listed with us that your card has been cancelled.
If your Clearance is suspended
While your Clearance is suspended, you cannot do child-related work.
Your Clearance will be suspended if you:
- are charged with, convicted, or found guilty of any offence specified in Clause 1 and/or 2 of schedule 5 by virtue of section 79 of the Worker Screening Act 2020, or
- become subject to:
- reporting obligations under Part 3 of the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004,
- a supervision order, detention order, emergency detention order or interim exclusion under the Serious Offenders Act 2018
- are excluded from child-related work due to child safety risk information that the Regulator receives or becomes aware of, and the Regulator is satisfied under section 79(1A) of the Act that suspending your Working with Children Clearance is in the interests of child safety.
We'll notify you as soon as possible if your Clearance is suspended, using the contact details currently listed with us.
Until we complete a reassessment of your case, your Clearance remains suspended and you cannot do child-related work.
Your Clearance may be reinstated if a charge against you is withdrawn, dismissed, or you are acquitted by a court.
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