- Published:
- Monday 19 October 2026 at 10:04 am
Victoria is reforming the Working with Children (WWC) Check to strengthen the child-safeguarding system.
New legal requirements for the WWC Check are in effect today with the introduction of the WWC Connect online service and mandatory online child safety training. The changes are part of reforms to Victoria’s child safeguarding system that respond to recommendations in the Rapid Child Safety Review 2025.
Together these changes help organisations make safer decisions about the people they engage to work or volunteer with children.
Working with Children Connect
From today, organisations that engage workers (including volunteers) to do child-related work must notify the Social Services Regulator (SSR) when they start or stop doing child-related work. Organisations need to do this using the new Working with Children (WWC) Connect online service.
To use WWC Connect organisations must:
- Check – use the WWC status checker to verify a person’s WWC Clearance before engaging them in child-related work.
- Connect – when ready to formally engage, connect them to your organisation using WWC Connect.
- Record – keep appropriate records to show you have completed the required checks and connection.
- 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.
These new legal requirements apply to new workers and volunteers. They also apply to changes relating to existing workers and volunteers. But organisations are strongly encouraged to connect existing staff. This provides a more complete view of your child-related workforce. It also ensures you receive notifications if a worker’s WWC Clearance status changes.
New mandatory online WWC Child Safety Training
New WWC Check applicants, people renewing their WWC Clearance and people changing from a volunteer to an employee WWC Clearance must complete mandatory Working with Children Child Safety Training. This supports a consistent understanding of child safety responsibilities across Victoria’s child-related workforce.
Find out more about WWC Connect mandatory WWC Check Child Safety Training.
Visit WWC Connect to get started.
Stay informed
To receive news and updates about the child safety reforms, you can:
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