Working with Children (WWC) Connect

From 19 October 2026, if you engage a worker (including a paid worker or volunteer) to do child-related work, you will have new responsibilities.

You will need to:

• verify their eligibility to do child-related work before they start
• use WWC Connect to notify the Social Services Regulator (SSR) when they start or stop child-related work
• keep certain information about the people you engage up to date.

See the General section below for information about the definition of a worker.

Before a worker starts child-related work, you will need to take steps to verify that they:

• hold a Working with Children (WWC) Clearance or exemption, or
• have applied for a WWC Clearance, where they are permitted to work while the application is being assessed, or
• are not excluded from child-related work in another jurisdiction.

See "How do I verify that someone is able to do child-related work before I engage them?" in the Labour-hire section below.

You will also need to use WWC Connect to keep the SSR informed about:

• when the worker starts or stops child-related work
• changes to the worker’s name, address, email address and phone number
• changes to your or your organisation’s name, address, email address and phone number.

Labour-hire agencies will have these and other requirements for workers they list for child-related work. See "What if I am a labour hire agency?" and "What are labour hire agencies responsible for?" in the Labour hire section.

From 19 October 2026, people applying for or renewing a WWC Check will need to complete mandatory online child safety training as part of the application and renewal process. See our Mandatory child safety training page.

The changes strengthen the WWC Check system by giving organisations, agencies and individuals greater responsibility for ensuring that the people they engage in child-related work hold a valid WWC Clearance. The changes also give the SSR more accurate and up-to-date information about where people with a WWC Clearance are working or volunteering.

WWC Connect will record the connection between organisations and individuals, and the workers they engage in child-related work. This will help the SSR identify who needs to be informed if a person’s WWC Clearance status changes.

Mandatory online child safety training will help ensure people applying for or renewing a WWC Check understand their responsibilities for keeping children safe.

These changes implement recommendations from the Rapid Child Safety Review.

Establishing the WWC Connect platform directly supports implementation of recommendation 6.1(c) of the 2025 Rapid Child Safety Review. The review recommended the regulatory framework be changed to require organisations to verify when they have engaged someone to undertake child-related work. This is intended to help provide accurate historical and current information of worker movements across different organisations.

The requirements to verify workers’ eligibility to work with children and to update WWC Connect will affect you if you are an organisation or person who engages workers to do child-related work(opens in a new window), or an agency that lists workers for child-related work.

Child-related work is work in certain services, organisations, places or activities that usually involves direct contact with children. It does not include occasional direct contact that is incidental to the work. This applies regardless of whether the contact with children is supervised.

If you engage someone to do work that is not child-related work, you aren’t required to notify the SSR through WWC Connect. However, you can still require a worker to hold a WWC Clearance and connect them to you through WWC Connect. Doing this means you can be notified if their WWC Clearance status changes.

If you are not required to use WWC Connect but you choose to do so, you should seek the consent of the worker to include their information in WWC Connect. You should also notify the SSR when you stop engaging a worker to do child-related work for you. This is important to ensure you only receive information that is relevant to a person currently engaged by you.

Yes. From 19 October 2026, all WWC Check applicants will need to do mandatory online child safety training before being assessed for a WWC Clearance. This requirement also applies to existing clearance holders renewing their WWC Clearance from 19 October 2026 onwards.

From 19 October 2026, if you engage a worker in child-related work, you will need to:

• verify their WWC status before they start child-related work
• notify the SSR through WWC Connect when they start or stop doing child-related work (within seven days for workers or within 21 days for volunteers).
• keep certain information up to date in WWC Connect, including their name, your name, address, email address and telephone number.

Agencies have these and other requirements for workers they list for child-related work. See "What if I am a labour hire agency?" and "What are labour hire agencies responsible for?" in the Labour-hire section below. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

Verifying and connecting a worker are two separate steps.

Before engaging a worker, use the WWC Status checker to verify that they are able do child-related work or take reasonable steps to confirm their WWC exemption.

Once you decide to engage the person, use WWC Connect to connect them to you or your organisation. Connecting them creates a record of the relationship and allows you to receive notifications if their WWC Clearance status changes.

Remember to verify first, then connect them when you’re ready to engage.

In Victoria, a person doing child-related work may be exempt from holding a WWC Clearance. This includes but is not limited to:

• people under-18-years-old
• some students aged 18 or 19 doing volunteer work organised by their educational institution
• parents volunteering in an activity in which their child participates or normally participates
• close relatives of the children they work with, provided they are closely related to each child and are not acting as a kinship carer
• police officers, protective service officers, police custody officer supervisors, police custody officers and federal police officers (that are not suspended from duty)
• teachers and early childhood teachers currently registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)

However, you must notify the SSR via WWC Connect if they undertake child-related work outside their teaching role in school or early childhood services. See "Who is exempt from holding a WWC Clearance" in the Connecting your workforce section.

Yes, if you are an early childhood service that engages workers to do child-related work (unless those workers are VIT registered teachers engaged in teaching at your service).

You need to:

• verify their eligibility to do child-related work before they start
• use WWC Connect to notify the SSR when the worker starts or stops child-related work

keep certain information about the worker up to date.

The National Early Childhood Worker Register is used to record workers engaged in specific education and care roles at approved services.

WWC Connect is used to record workers engaged in child-related work (see: “What is child-related work?” In the General section). This includes workers with a WWC Clearance but does not include workers with a VIT registration unless they are engaged in child-related work that is not teaching at a school or early childhood service. An organisation or individual who connects a worker on WWC Connect will be automatically notified if that worker’s WWC Clearance status changes.

There is no change to your responsibility.

It is an offence for you to engage a person whose WWC Clearance is suspended in child-related work.

If you engage a person for child-related work, and you know, or are reckless as to whether, they do not have a current WWC Clearance, you may face a penalty, including imprisonment.

The penalty is level 7 imprisonment (two years maximum) or a level 7 fine (240 penalty units ($50,184 for financial year 26/27) maximum) or both.

The penalty in the case of a body corporate is 1200 penalty units ($250,920 for financial year 26/27).

As a sole trader, you are treated in the same way as an organisation. These obligations apply if you intend to engage another person to do child-related work.

You are responsible for verifying that a person is permitted to do child-related work before engaging them.

You must not engage a person for child-related work unless they:

• hold a WWC Clearance
• have applied for a clearance and the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) shows they are permitted to work while their application is being assessed, or
• they are exempt for other reasons.

You are responsible for keeping evidence of this verification.

You will also need to use WWC Connect to keep the SSR informed about:

• when the worker starts or stops child-related work
• changes to the worker’s name, address, email address and telephone number
• changes to your or your organisation’s name, address, email address and phone number.

You must keep records of the above details for at least seven years after you stop engaging the person in child-related work. Information you enter into WWC Connect can be downloaded to be retained as records.

No, access to WWC Connect will be available from 19 October.

The SSR is aware that it will take time for organisations and individuals to establish systems to comply with the child safety reforms and will take a reasonable and proportionate approach to enforcement.

As a labour-hire agency, you are responsible for verifying that a worker can do child-related work before listing them for a placement.

You must not list a person for child-related work unless they:

• have a WWC Clearance
• have applied for one and the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) shows they may work while their application is being assessed, or
• they are exempt for other reasons.

You are responsible for keeping evidence of this verification.

You must keep evidence that you verified the person’s WWC status before listing them as available for child-related work.

You are required to notify the Regulator via WWC Connect within seven days:

• of listing a person for child-related work
• of ceasing to list a person for child-related work
• of any change to your agency’s name, address, email address or telephone number
• of any change to a listed person’s name, address, email address or telephone number.

You must also keep records for each person you list for child-related work, including:

• their name, address, email address and telephone number
• the date you listed them for child-related work
• the date you stopped listing them for child-related work
• any changes to your name, address, email address and telephone number
• the name and contact details of each person or organisation where you placed the worker for child-related work
• the dates and total number of hours the worker undertook child-related work during each placement.

You must keep these records for at least seven years after you stop listing the person for child-related work.

Information you enter into WWC Connect can be downloaded to be retained as records. However, details related to verifications and individual placements cannot be added to WWC Connect, so you will have to keep separate records of that information.

Any person you want to engage to do child-related work must first be verified.

You must verify the person before whichever of these happens first:

• the day they first perform child-related work for you; or
• the day you enter into an arrangement with them to do child-related work (an arrangement may be written or verbal or both).

Use the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) to verify that the person holds a current WWC Clearance. To do this, enter their family name and WWC application or card number in the WWC status checker.

If the person is exempt from holding a WWC Clearance, you will need to take reasonable steps to confirm the exemption applies. For example, you may need to sight appropriate evidence of their exemption, such as verifying a registered teacher using the VIT Register.

Ensure you keep a record of verifying the person, as this is required by law.

Do I need to know a worker’s WWC Clearance number to verify them? 

Yes. To verify a worker using the WWC status checker, you will need the worker’s WWC Check application or WWC Clearance details or their VIT registration details if they are a registered teacher doing child-related work outside of teaching in a school or early childhood service.

Yes. You should verify their current WWC status before engaging them for child-related work, even if they show you their WWC Clearance.

You can verify they have a WWC Clearance by entering their family name and their WWC application number or card number in the WWC status checker(opens in a new window).

If the person is exempt from having a WWC Clearance, you must verify this too. For example, if the person is exempt because they are a registered teacher, you can use the VIT Register to confirm their eligibility to work with children.

A person must hold a current WWC Clearance to engage in child-related work, unless an exemption applies.

If their WWC Clearance has expired, they must not do child-related work, unless they are permitted to do so while a new application is being assessed.

You should check their current WWC status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) before allowing them to continue child-related work.

It is an offence to allow a person to engage in child-related work without a current WWC Clearance, unless an exemption or other permitted circumstance applies, and you may face penalties, including possible imprisonment.

If a worker doesn’t hold a WWC Clearance or exemption, they must apply for a WWC Check before engaging in child-related work.

In certain circumstances, a person may be able to continue or start child-related work while their application is being assessed. You should use the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) to verify if they’re able to do child-related work while their application is being processed.

It is an offence to engage, or continue to engage, a person in child-related work if:

• you know the work is child-related; and
• the worker does not have a current WWC Clearance; and
• you know the worker doesn’t have a WWC Clearance or were reckless as to whether or not the worker had a Clearance.

Penalties may apply, including possible imprisonment.

The penalty for a person is level 7 imprisonment (two years maximum) or 240 penalty units ($50,184 for financial year 26/27) or both.

The penalty in the case of a body corporate is 1200 penalty units ($250,920 for financial year 26/27).

No. Before you engage someone in child-related work, you must verify their current WWC status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) or take reasonable steps to confirm their WWC exemption.

A worker should not start child-related work until you have verified their eligibility to work with children.

You must verify the person before whichever of these happens first:

• the day they first perform child-related work for you; or
• the day you enter into an arrangement with them to do child-related work (an arrangement may be written or verbal or both).

Yes. You must keep evidence showing that you verified the person’s WWC status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) before engaging them in child-related work.

You must keep this evidence for at least seven years after they stop working with you.

If the person is exempt from holding a WWC Clearance, you must also keep evidence of the exemption. For example, a screen shot showing the person’s exemption status with the relevant date and time is acceptable evidence.

Failing to keep the required records is an offence and penalties may apply.

From 19 October 2026, the penalty is five penalty units ($1,045.50 for financial year 26/27) for a person and 10 penalty units ($2,091 for financial year 26/27) in the case of a body corporate.

You must keep certain records about each person you engage in child-related work, including:

• their name, address, email address and telephone number
• the date they started child-related work
• the date they stopped doing child-related work (if applicable)
• any changes to their name or contact details.

These records must be kept for at least seven years after you stop engaging the person in child-related work.

Information you input into WWC Connect can be downloaded to be retained as records.

You must keep evidence that you verified the person’s WWC status before engaging them for child-related work. When using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window), you can provide your email address to keep a copy of the result as evidence.

If the person is exempt from holding a WWC Clearance, you must keep evidence that the exemption applies.

See Who is exempt from holding a WWC Clearance in the About WWC Connect section.

For example, a screen shot showing the person’s exemption status with the relevant date and time is acceptable evidence.

You and the worker will receive a notification when their WWC Clearance status changes. For example, when the clearance expires after five years, or when the clearance is suspended or revoked.

You must not engage a person in child-related work unless they have a WWC Clearance or have applied for a Clearance and the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) indicates they may work with children on application.

Where a person is engaged through an agency, that agency is responsible for verifying they are able to work with children. The agency is also responsible for connecting the worker to their agency through WWC Connect, notifying SSR of changes to certain information and keeping evidence.

See "What if I am a labour hire agency?" and "What are labour hire agencies responsible for?" in the Labour-hire section above.

Yes. You must verify the person’s WWC status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window), as well as notify the SSR via WWC Connect when you re-engage them.

This includes people who have previously been engaged by you or your organisation, because you would have previously notified via WWC Connect when you stopped engaging them.

If re-engaging someone, you must also connect them to WWC Connect again.

Once you have verified that a worker can do child-related work and you decide to engage them, you must connect them to you or your organisation through WWC Connect.

From 19 October 2026, any worker you engage on or after this date to do child-related work must be connected through WWC Connect. Labour hire agencies must also connect workers they list for child-related work. See "What if I am a labour hire agency?" and "What are labour hire agencies responsible for?" in the Labour-hire section.

Verifying and connecting are separate steps. First, use the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) to verify that the person can do child-related work. When you decide to engage this person, use WWC Connect to connect them to you.

On WWC Connect, you must provide:

• the person’s name, address, email address and telephone number (contact details)
• the date they started child-related work
• the date they stopped child-related work (if applicable)
• any changes to the person’s name or contact details
• any changes to your or your organisation’s name or contact details.

If you are an agency, you must include:

• the person’s name and contact details
• the date you listed them to do child-related work
• the date you stopped listing them to do child-related work (if applicable)
• any changes to the person’s name or contact details
• any changes to your or your agency’s name or contact details.

Yes. If you engage a worker to do child-related work, you must connect them to you or your organisation through WWC Connect.

You should first verify that the person can do child-related work using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window). Once you engage them you are legally required to connect them through WWC Connect.

You must use WWC Connect to connect:

• a worker within seven days of engaging them
• a volunteer within 21 days of engaging them.

First, use the WWC Status Checker(opens in a new window) to verify that the person can do child-related work.

Once you have engaged them, you are legally required to connect them to you through WWC Connect within the required timeframe.

You engage a person on:

• the date when the person starts the child-related work, or
• the date when you enter into an arrangement to engage a person for child-related work under a written or verbal agreement, if this date occurs earlier. 

You do not need to connect someone to you through WWC Connect simply because they have applied for a job.

For workers, you must update their details in WWC Connect within seven days of the change.

For volunteers, you will need to update their details in WWC Connect within 21 days of the change.

This applies to changes to their name, address, email address or telephone number.

If you engage workers in child-related work, you must update your details within seven days of the change.

If you engage volunteers in child-related work, you will need to update your details within 21 days of the change.

This applies to your name, address, email address or telephone number.

Yes, it is strongly encouraged that you connect your existing workers who do child-related work.

Connecting them through WWC Connect means you can receive notifications if there are changes to their WWC Clearance status.

We also encourage you to verify their current WWC status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window).

Connecting your existing workforce helps you maintain oversight of who is able to do child-related work for you.

If a worker you engaged before 19 October 2026 changes their name or contact details or stops doing child-related work for you, you must update this information through WWC Connect.

If a worker is exempt from holding a WWC Clearance, you don’t need to connect them to WWC Connect unless they are a registered teacher doing child-related work outside of teaching in a school or early childhood service (for example, as a tutor or Scouts leader).

You will need to keep records of evidence that a person is exempt. For example, a screen shot showing the person’s exemption status with the relevant date and time is acceptable evidence.

Yes. Every organisation that engages a worker in child-related work must connect the person to their organisation using WWC Connect. This ensures that if the person’s WWC clearance status changes, every organisation they work or volunteer for can be notified.

Yes. If a volunteer does child-related work for you, you must connect them through WWC Connect.

You must connect volunteers within 21 days of engaging them.

You engage a volunteer on:

• the date when the volunteer starts the child-related work; or
• the date when you enter into an arrangement to engage a volunteer for child-related work under a written or verbal agreement, if this date occurs earlier.

You stop engaging a volunteer in child-related work when:

• the arrangement comes to an end, whether by agreement or through the actions of one party; and
• no later than the last date on which the volunteer performed child-related work.

If you engage a volunteer for a specific period, such as a school term or sporting season, their engagement generally stops at the end of that period.

The SSR recognises that for some organisations, volunteers might offer their services to the organisation on an ongoing basis with no fixed end date. The volunteer might perform voluntary work for the organisation on a regular basis, or on an ad hoc basis when needed and available.

In those circumstances, the SSR expects organisations to confirm with each volunteer on an annual basis whether they wish to continue as a volunteer for the organisation and be connected to the organisation on WWC Connect. If the volunteer no longer wishes to be engaged in child-related work for the organisation, the organisation is required to update WWC Connect to reflect that the volunteer is no longer engaged.

Yes. If a volunteer does child-related work for you, you must connect them through WWC Connect.

You must connect volunteers within 21 days of engaging them.

You engage a volunteer on:

• the date when the volunteer starts the child-related work; or
• the date when you enter into an arrangement to engage a volunteer for child-related work under a written or verbal agreement, if this date occurs earlier.

You stop engaging a volunteer in child-related work when:

• the arrangement comes to an end, whether by agreement or through the actions of one party; and
• no later than the last date on which the volunteer performed child-related work.

Where a volunteer is engaged for a specific period, such as a school term or sporting season, their engagement generally stops at the end of that period.

Yes. Permanent workers (whether full time or part time) who do child-related work must be connected through WWC Connect.

You must first verify that they can do child-related work through the WWC status checker, then connect them through WWC Connect.

Their employment type does not change the requirement.

Yes. Casual workers who do child-related work must be connected through WWC Connect.

You must first verify that they can do child-related work through the WWC status checker, then connect them through WWC Connect.

Where a casual employee is engaged regularly for a specific period, such as every Friday over the course of a school term or sporting season, their engagement generally stops at the end of that period.

For casual employees who are engaged for discrete periods of differing duration not forming any pattern, and may have extensive absences between each period, the engagement starts and ends with each period.

Yes. If the contractor is doing child-related work for you and is required to hold a WWC Clearance, they must be connected through WWC Connect.

You must first verify that they can do child-related work through the WWC status checker, then connect them through WWC Connect.

Yes. If a sub-contractor is engaged to perform child-related work for you or on your behalf, you must connect that sub-contractor through WWC Connect.

You must first verify that they can do child-related work through the WWC status checker, then connect them through WWC Connect.

A worker must be connected on WWC Connect within seven days of engaging the worker, or within 21 days if they are a volunteer.

There is no minimum number of hours before a worker must be connected through WWC Connect.

If the person is a VIT registered teacher and you are engaging them to teach in a school or early childhood service, you do not need to connect them through WWC Connect.

However, if they are doing child-related work that is not teaching in a school or early childhood service (for example, you are engaging them as a private tutor or leader of a Scouts group), you will need to connect them.

If the teacher provides their VIT registration instead of a WWC Clearance, you must include their VIT registration when connecting them through WWC Connect by selecting ‘VIT registration’ instead of ‘WWC Clearance’.  

If you engage a teacher to teach at a school or early childhood service, you must notify VIT directly through the VIT employer portal(opens in a new window). 

Yes. Each organisation or person that engages a worker for child-related work is legally required to connect them through WWC Connect, even if it is only short term. This ensures you can be notified if the worker’s WWC status changes.

Yes. The legal obligations apply to a person or organisation engaging a worker in child-related work.

Child-related work is work at or for a service, body or place that usually involves direct contact with a child. This includes running activities for children.

You can see what work is considered child-related work at Who requires a Working with Children Check?

You do not have to connect visiting workers who are not ordinarily resident in Victoria, if:

• the period during which the person engages in that work is not more than 30 days
• the person does not engage in any other child-related work in Victoria within the same calendar year, and
• that person holds the equivalent of a WWC Clearance under a corresponding working with children law in their home jurisdiction/ state.

It is your responsibility to monitor that you do not engage the person in child-related work for more than 30 days. You may only engage the person in child-related work for more than 30 days if the person holds a valid Victorian WWC Clearance. In this case, you should first verify that the person can do child-related work using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window). Once you decide to engage them, you are legally required to connect them through WWC Connect.

You need to connect a person through WWC Connect each time that you engage them for child-related work.

You must use WWC Connect to connect:

• a worker within seven days of engaging them
• a volunteer within 21 days of engaging them

You engage a person on:

• the date when the person starts the child-related work, or
• the date when you enter into an arrangement to engage a person for child-related work under a written or verbal agreement, if this date occurs earlier. 

If you later stop engaging them, you are legally required to update WWC Connect. If you engage them again in the future, you are legally required to connect them again.

Where a worker is engaged in child-related work by a central authority or head office but works on a day-to-day basis at another branch or office (or related body corporate or subsidiary), the central authority or head office is legally responsible for verifying the worker holds a valid WWC Clearance through the WWC status checker and connecting them through WWC Connect.

The central authority or head office will receive notifications from the SSR about a change in a worker’s WWC Clearance status and will be responsible for advising the branch or office (or related body corporate or subsidiary) where the person works of any change in WWC Clearance status.

This applies even if the central authority or head office is based in a different state or territory.

Yes, if the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) shows that the person is allowed to do child-related work while their application or renewal is being processed.

Before connecting the person in WWC Connect, use the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) to verify that they can do child-related work.

You must keep certain records about each worker you engage for child-related work for at least seven years after you stop engaging them.

For workers, you must keep these details:

• their name, address, email address and telephone number (contact details)
• evidence you verified the person’s eligibility to engage in child-related work through the WWC status checker before engaging them
• the date you engaged them in child-related work
• the date you stopped engaging them in child-related work (if applicable)
• any changes to their name or contact details.

If you are a labour hire agency, you must keep a record of the following for at least seven years after you stop listing a worker:

• their name and contact details
• evidence you verified the person’s eligibility to engage in child-related work through the WWC status checker before engaging them
• the date you listed them for child-related work
• the date you stopped listing them for child-related work
• any changes to their name or contact details
• the name and contact details of each person or organisation where you placed the worker for child-related work
• the dates and total number of hours the worker undertook child-related work during each placement.

Failing to keep the required records is an offence and penalties may apply.

From 19 October 2026, the penalty is five penalty units ($1,045.50 for financial year 26/27) for a person and 10 penalty units ($2,091 for financial year 26/27) in the case of a body corporate.

You must keep the required records for at least seven years after you stop engaging the worker.

Yes. A worker can be connected to more than one organisation.

Each organisation or person that engages them in child-related work should make its own connection through WWC Connect.

This means that if a person’s WWC status changes, each organisation or person connected to them can be notified and take appropriate action.

Yes. If you previously told the SSR that you had stopped engaging the person and you later engage the worker again for child-related work, you must connect them again through WWC Connect.

Before re-engaging them, you should also use the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) to verify that they can do child-related work.

Workers must be connected within seven days of being engaged and volunteers must be connected within 21 days.

You engage a person on:

• the date when the person starts the child-related work, or
• the date when you enter into an arrangement to engage a person for child-related work under a written or verbal agreement, if this date occurs earlier. 

Parents can use WWC Connect to connect a person who does child-related work with their child.

This is not mandatory, but connecting the worker means the parent can receive notifications if the worker’s WWC status changes. There is a specific page on WWC Connect that parents can use to notify the SSR of people you engage to work with your child.

Before using WWC Connect to notify the SSR of an engagement, parents can also use the existing status checker to verify the person they want to engage to work with their child has a valid WWC Clearance.

If you are not required to use WWC Connect but you choose to do so, you must ensure you update WWC Connect when you stop engaging a person in child-related work. This is important to ensure you only receive information that is relevant to a person currently engaged by you.

Parents can access WWC Connect online via Service Victoria’s website at service.vic.gov.au. You will need to sign in using your Service Victoria account.

If you cannot use WWC Connect because you are having technical difficulties, contact the Department of Government Services (DGS). Help and support using WWC Connect is available. Contact Service Victoria via chat or message or call 132 VIC (132 842).

Yes. You must re-connect a person on WWC Connect when you re-engage a person.

This includes people who have previously been engaged by you or your organisation, because you would have previously notified via WWC Connect when you stopped engaging them.

You must also verify the person’s WWC status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window).

Currently WWC Connect only allows you to enter one address for a worker. Please provide the worker’s most up-to-date address.

No, you do not need to report a worker’s place of work on WWC Connect.

If you have the worker’s consent, the SSR prefers that you provide their personal email address and telephone number. The SSR may use the email address you provide to contact a worker about their WWC Clearance.

Where a person is engaged through an agency, that agency is responsible for connecting the worker to the agency through WWC Connect. That agency is also responsible for verifying they are able to work with children through the WWC status checker before listing them, keeping evidence of this verification, and notifying the SSR of changes to certain information.

See "What if I am a labour-hire agency?" and "What are labour-hire agencies responsible for?” in the Labour-hire section.

From 19 October 2026, we recommend organisations and individuals engaging people in child-related work use a computer to access WWC Connect for the best user experience. In building the platform, priority has been given to technical changes that will make reporting easier, to ensure platform users can comply with their legal obligations. Improving mobile responsiveness will be prioritised when the portal is in operation.

Yes, if you directly engage someone to do child-related work with a child in your care, such as a private maths tutor you need to notify the Social Services Regulatorthrough WWC Connect.

Foster and kinship carers should use WWC Connect ‘For parents and individuals’.

If you engage a service through an organisation, such as swimming lessons at a local sports centre, the organisation is responsible for notifying the Social Services Regulator about the engagement.

If you don’t know the exact date a worker started child-related work with your organisation, enter the earliest date you became aware they were undertaking that work.

Check any employment or engagement records first. If you’re still unsure, speak with the worker to help establish their start date.

The time it takes will depend on whether you have an existing Service Victoria account, what you need to do and how many workers you are managing.

Adding an individual worker to WWC Connect should only take a few minutes if you have the required information ready. Organisations managing larger numbers of workers can use the bulk upload function. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

You can access WWC Connect online via Service Victoria’s website at service.vic.gov.au. You will need to sign in using your Service Victoria account. If you are setting up your organisation for the first time on Service Victoria, you will also need to create a business profile before you can start using WWC Connect. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

You will need information about your organisation and the workers you want to connect.

This includes:

• your organisation details
• the worker’s name, address, email address and telephone number
• the WWC Clearance or application details or VIT registration details
• the worker’s engagement type and date they started doing child-related work with your organisation.

You need to provide identifying information requested by the portal to make sure you are adding the correct person. The portal will tell you which information is required as you complete the process.

Yes. More than one authorised person can access your organisation’s profile. Your organisation can add delegates so appropriate staff can help connect workers and update their details. Delegates use their own Service Victoria account and may need to complete identity verification before accessing worker information or performing certain actions. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

An authorised administrator can add delegates through the organisation’s profile in WWC Connect. The delegate will then use their own Service Victoria account to access the organisation’s profile. Access will depend on the permissions assigned to them. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

A head organisation must first create a Service Victoria account, if it does not already have one.

Multiple subsidiaries can be added under this Service Victoria account. See: Service Victoria – How to set up a Business Profile account.

In WWC Connect, each subsidiary can have their own ‘worker list’ and you can manage worker information for each list. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

Yes. Organisations are required to establish their own Business Profile on WWC Connect but can then delegate reporting authority to another organisation to make notifications on their behalf.

Notifications regarding WWC Clearance status changes are received by the contact nominated in WWC Connect. If the delegated organisation is nominated as the contact to receive the notifications, the delegated organisation should immediately inform the other organisation of a change in WWC Clearance status. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

WWC Connect uses additional information to help identify the correct person, including their WWC Clearance or application number or VIT registration. Check the details carefully before adding or taking action on a worker to make sure you have selected the right person.

If you need to connect a large number of workers, you can use the bulk upload function. Individual workers can be connected individually. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

Yes. Once a worker has been connected to your organisation, your organisation will receive notifications about changes to their WWC Clearance status.

Make sure the details you enter match the person's current WWC Check details, or VIT registration details for teachers. If their details have changed and you cannot find them, check that they have updated their details with the relevant authority. Help and support using WWC Connect is available. Contact the Victorian Government via chat or message..

Yes. WWC Connect includes a bulk upload function to help organisations connect larger numbers of workers. You can prepare worker information in the required CSV format and upload it through the WWC Connect portal. A template CSV file is available on the portal.

Individual workers can be connected through WWC Connect. If you need to connect a large number of people, the bulk upload function provides a more efficient way to connect multiple workers. Watch instructional videos about how to set up and use WWC Connect.

Direct integration with individual organisations’ HR, payroll or volunteer management systems is not available as part of the initial WWC Connect release. Organisations can use the available bulk upload functions to connect their workers and volunteers.

WWC Connect automatically checks relevant worker information against available WWC or VIT information when required. Direct automated integration between your organisation’s systems and WWC Connect is not available as part of the initial release.

Check that the information entered is correct and matches the person’s WWC or VIT details. If the details are correct and you still cannot find the person help and support using WWC Connect is available. Contact the Victorian Government via chat or message.

You are required to notify the SSR via WWC Connect of changes to workers’ name and contact details, including address. You must update details in WWC Connect within seven days for workers or 21 days for volunteers. Workers and volunteers cannot do this themselves.

WWC Connect provides your organisation with a record of the workers who are engaged in child-related work and whom you have connected to your organisation. Reporting and history information available through the portal can help your organisation keep track of worker records and activity.

Once a worker has been connected to your organisation in WWC Connect, you will receive notifications if their WWC Clearance status changes to your business’s nominated email address for the purpose of worker reporting updates and notifications.

However, you are still required to notify the SSR through WWC Connect if a worker stops engaging in child-related work or if their or your organisation’s name, address, email address or telephone number change.

Your organisation must handle personal information in accordance with applicable privacy and information-handling requirements. You are responsible for informing workers that their personal information will be shared with the Department of Government Services and the Social Services Regulator where required. Only collect, access and use information for authorised purposes and ensure access is limited to people who need it for their role.

You will need to update the worker’s record in WWC Connect when you stop engaging them in child-related work for your organisation. This should be done within seven days for workers, or 21 days for volunteers. You will need to provide their end date so your organisation’s records accurately reflect that they are no longer engaged.

You should record that the worker has stopped working with your organisation rather than deleting their history. This allows your organisation to maintain an appropriate record of the engagement. See "What records do I need to keep after connecting a worker?" in the Connecting your workforce section.

No, workers connected to WWC Connect cannot remove themselves from WWC Connect. Workers do not have access to the system.

The legal requirement to update WWC Connect sits with organisations and people who engage workers. You must use WWC Connect to notify SSR of changes to a worker’s personal details or if they have ceased child-related work with you or your organisation within seven days (or 21 days for volunteers).

Help and support using WWC Connect is available Contact the Victorian Government via chat or message.

The National Early Childhood Worker Register and WWC Connect serve different purposes.

The National Register records information about workers in approved early childhood education and care services.

WWC Connect helps organisations meet their obligations to notify the SSR about workers engaged in child-related work in Victoria.

Through WWC Connect, organisations can also receive notifications if a connected worker’s WWC Clearance status changes, including if their clearance is suspended or revoked.

Organisations must meet their obligations to notify the SSR about workers engaged in child-related work, even if they have already provided information to the National Register.

These changes also give the SSR more accurate and up-to-date information about where people with a WWC Clearance are working or volunteering.

Yes, if your organisation uses the whole-of-government API to check workers’ WWC Clearance status, you must still meet your obligations to notify the Social Services Regulator when you engage and stop engaging a worker in child-related work, as well as when certain details change.

The status checker allows organisations to verify a worker’s eligibility to undertake child-related work.

WWC Connect serves a different purpose. It allows organisations to meet the notification requirements.

The approach to existing API arrangements will be reviewed in the future.

No. A person must not do child-related work unless they have a current WWC Clearance or the WWC status checker(opens in a new window) shows that they are allowed to work while their application or renewal is being processed.

If their WWC Clearance expires, check their status using the WWC status checker(opens in a new window).

If the status checker shows that they cannot do child-related work, they must stop that work immediately.

You must immediately stop engaging the person in child-related work.

You must also update WWC Connect to show that you have stopped engaging them for child-related work.

It is an offence to engage a person in child-related work if they don’t have a WWC Clearance. Penalties may apply, including imprisonment.

The penalty for a person is level 7 imprisonment (two years maximum) or 240 penalty units ($50,184 for financial year 26/27) or both

The penalty in the case of a body corporate is 1200 penalty units ($250,920 for financial year 26/27).

Yes. If a worker is connected to you through WWC Connect and their WWC status changes, you will be notified via the email address you provided on WWC Connect. This includes when there is a suspension, interim bar, interim exclusion, revocation, and expiration.

You will be able to view the change in WWC Connect and you will also receive an email notification.

No. You will be told whether the person can do child-related work and, where relevant, whether their WWC Clearance has been suspended, revoked or they have been excluded.

You will not be told the reasons for the decision.

You must immediately stop engaging the person in child-related work.

What this means for their employment, volunteer arrangement or other engagement, will depend on the circumstances and is a matter for you to determine.

You must also update WWC Connect if you stop engaging the person for child-related work.

It’s an offence to engage a person who doesn’t have a WWC Clearance in child-related work when you know, or are reckless as to whether, the worker doesn’t have a current WWC Clearance.

WWC Connect can only notify you about the status of Victorian WWC Clearances. You will not be notified about a change in WWC Clearance status if that WWC Clearance is from another state or territory.

However, if a current Victorian WWC Clearance holder is excluded from child-related work interstate they will be automatically excluded in Victoria. You will then be notified of this exclusion via WWC Connect.

If a worker connected to your organisation has a change to their WWC Clearance status or their VIT registration changes, you’ll receive an automatic email notification.

The notification will explain the worker’s updated status. Depending on the change, you may need to take immediate action.

If the worker’s clearance has expired

The worker’s WWC Clearance is no longer current. You need to check their eligibility to continue child-related work using the WWC status checker. if they are not eligible to do child-related work they should immediately stop engaging in that work.

The worker has three months to renew their WWC Clearance before they will need to re-apply for a WWC Clearance. You should use the WWC status checker to confirm the person can continue working with children while their application is being decided.

If the worker has been issued a WWC Exclusion

The worker is no longer permitted to undertake child-related workYou must immediately stop engaging them in that work.

If the worker’s status has been suspended

The worker must not undertake child-related work requiring a WWC Clearance while the suspension remains in place. You must immediately stop engaging them in that work.

If a worker’s WWC Check application is being processed

The worker must not do child-related work while their application is being assessed, until further notice from the SSR.

It is an offence to engage, or continue to engage, a worker in child-related work if:

• you know the work is child-related work; and
• the worker does not have a current WWC Clearance; and
• you know that the worker does not have a current WWC Clearance or are reckless as to whether or not they have one.

If you’ve received a notification that someone you’ve engaged to work with your child has had a change to their WWC Clearance status, check the notification carefully to understand what it means.

Depending on the change, you may need to stop engaging that person in child-related work immediately.

A worker’s clearance status may change for various reasons. For example, their Clearance may have expired or it may have been suspended. For more information about what the status change means, refer to “I've received an automated notification from SSR advising that the clearance status of a worker I connected on WWC Connect has changed. What does the notification mean?” in the Notifications when a worker’s status changes section.

If you have any further questions, you can contact the SSR Contact Centre on 1300 310 778.

The Social Services Regulator understands that receiving this type of notification may be concerning. If you or your child need additional support, the following services are available.

• Blue Knot Helpline –1300 657 380

• Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

• Kids Helpline - Visit Kids Helpline or call 1800 55 1800

• Headspace -Visit the Headspace website or call 1800 650 890

• Beyond Blue - Visit Beyond Blue website or call 1300 22 4636

• Lifeline Australia – Visit Lifeline Australia or call 13 11 14

There are penalties, including possible imprisonment, for failing to meet certain WWC requirements.

Offence to engage person without a WWC Clearance in child-related work

It is an offence to engage, or continue to engage, a person in child-related work if:

• you know the work is child-related; and
• the worker does not have a current WWC Clearance; and
• you know the worker doesn’t have a WWC Clearance or were reckless as to whether or not the worker had a Clearance.

Offence to fail to provide required information

It is an offence to fail to provide required information to the SSR, including when:

• you engage a person for child-related work
• a person’s or organisation’s required details change
• you stop engaging a person for child-related work.

Offence to fail to keep relevant records

From 19 October 2026, it is an offence to fail to keep records of the following information for at least seven years after you stop engaging or listing a worker in child-related work:

• their name, address, email address and telephone number (contact details)
• how you verified their eligibility to work with children
• the date on which you engaged/listed the worker
• the date on which you stopped engaging/listing the worker
• any change to the worker’s name or contact details.

If you cannot access WWC Connect because of technical difficulties, contact the Service Victoria contact centre for support. Help and support using WWC Connect is available. Contact the Victorian Government via chat or message.

If you cannot notify within the timeframes (i.e., seven days for workers or 21 days for volunteers) for any reason, you can contact the Social Services Regulator contact centre.

If you experience technical issues, please contact the Victorian Government via chat or message.

If you cannot notify within the timeframes (i.e., seven days for workers or 21 days for volunteers) for any reason, then you can contact the Social Services Regulator contact centre.

There is no preferred format for records. Records may be kept in an online or offline system. Information entered into WWC Connect can be downloaded to be retained as records.

If you engage a worker in child-related work, you must keep a record of the following information for at least seven years after ending the worker’s engagement in child-related work:

• the name, address, email address and phone number of the worker
• evidence of verifying the worker’s eligibility to work with children
• the date on which you engaged and ceased to engage the worker in child-related work
• any changes to the worker’s name or contact details.

For agencies, please see “What if I am a labour hire agency? What are labour hire agencies responsible for?” in the Labour-hire section for information on the record-keeping requirements.

You should notify the SSR within seven days of becoming aware of the change, or 21 days if they are a volunteer.

Workers include, but are not limited to:

• Employees (full time, part time or casual)
• Volunteers
• Contractors
• Sub-contractors
• University students on placement/work experience
• Apprentices/trainees
• Drivers (owner driver or otherwise)
• Partnerships
• Ministers of religion or work as part of a religious vocation
• Officers of body corporates
• Members of a committee of management of unincorporated associations.

Child-related work is work in certain services, organisations, places or activities that usually involves direct contact with children. It does not include occasional direct contact that is incidental to the work. This applies regardless of whether the contact with children is supervised.

If an organisation is engaging a worker in non-child-related work, they are not legally required to notify the SSR via WWC Connect.

A worker is engaged to perform child-related work on:

• the day they first perform child-related work for you; or
• the day you enter into an arrangement (verbal or in writing) with them to do child-related work if this date occurs earlier.

A person stops being engaged in child-related work either:

• on the date their arrangement ends, whether by agreement or because either party ends the arrangement (verbally or in writing); and
• is no later than the last date on which they perform child-related work.

An engagement may end because:

• a contract or agreed period of work ends
• the person resigns or the engagement is terminated, or
• a particular task or project is completed.

If your business is to procure child-related work for a person seeking child-related work, you are considered an agency.

More information about agencies’ responsibilities is detailed under the Labour-hire section.

Yes, workers are still required to add organisations and individuals who engage them for child-related work to their WWC profile, as part of the WWC Check application process.

You are required to provide certain information to the Social Services Regulator in order to comply with your obligations under the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic). This includes your personal information and personal information of the people you engage in child-related work.

Service Victoria will share this information with the Social Services Regulator.

The Social Services Regulator will use this information to assess compliance with the Worker Screening Act 2020. The Social Services Regulator may also use this information for other purposes where permitted by law, including for the Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

The Social Services Regulator will also use this information to identify organisations and individuals engaging a worker, so that they can be notified of any changes of that worker’s WWC Clearance status.

The Social Services Regulator collects, uses, discloses and stores personal, sensitive, health and commercially sensitive information in compliance with its obligations under relevant legislation, including the:

• Social Services Regulation Act 2021
• Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
• Health Records Act 2001
• Public Records Act 1973

Information will be destroyed or permanently de-identified if it is no longer needed for any purpose, in line with the Public Records Act 1973 requirements.