Working with Children Check

The Working with Children Check is a screening process for assessing or re-assessing people who work with or care for children in Victoria.

It is a detailed look at the criminal history and relevant professional conduct findings of applicants to ensure children are protected from sexual or physical harm.

More information is available at the Victorian Government Working with Children Check website.

If your position description requires a WWC Check, then you will need to maintain it while working at Council.

The Council must identify child safety risks that are broader than just requiring WWC Checks for those who work directly with children, it needs to consider risks associated with all roles.

Roles that use or visit Council facilities and assets where children’s programs are held or where children are present or reasonably expected to be present, roles which liaise with the public and roles that have access to sensitive information about children may require WWC Checks even if not working directly with children.

Given that the city identifies as a Child Friendly City and as a key provider of community for families, parents/carers, children and young people, Council plays a crucial role in fostering a safe and protective environment within all its facilities, services and programs.  

A volunteer check is only for volunteer work. It’s free of charge.

If you are an employee, you will need to apply for an employee check, listing “Greater Dandenong City Council” as your employer. Existing employees can be reimbursed for the cost. 

If you’re changing from volunteer to paid work, you’ll need to apply for a Volunteer to Employee Check.

Visit the State Government's Change from Volunteer to Employee website.

You can update the organisation details using your Working with Children Check card number. This is a legal requirement.

To update your details

Visit the State Government's Update your Working with Children Check Details website and add:

Organisation name: Greater Dandenong City Council

Address: 225 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong VIC 3175

Telephone: 03 8571 1000

Email: council@cgd.vic.gov.au

Council is currently inviting all staff to apply for and maintain an employee WWC Check. WWC Checks for existing staff will be reimbursed. 

To renew your WWC Check, visit the State Government's Renew your Working with Children Check webpage.

The designated Administration/Business Support Officer in each Department/Directorate will assist with the payment or reimbursement process.

To receive prompt reimbursement, a person must present: 

• a copy of the renewal application;
• the original receipt of payment;
• evidence that they have listed Council as an employer; and
• a copy of the new WWC Check Card;

The Administration/Business Support Officer will then liaise with the manager to complete the payment or reimbursement process and advise when the payment is available to be collected.

You can use your phone to apply for your WWC Check on the State Government's Apply for a Working with Children Check webpage.

Do not forget to list the "Greater Dandenong City Council" as your organisation on the application. This is a legal requirement. 

Depending on whether Working with Children Check Victoria need to investigate your application, but usually takes 3 to 12 weeks.

You’ll be asked for a range of documents to do your check.

You can use the following to verify your identity:

1. One of these documents:
   - Australian passport — current or expired less than three years
   - Australian birth certificate that is not handwritten
   - Foreign passport linked to a valid Australian visa — national police check will count this as two documents
   - A valid ImmiCard
   - Australian citizenship certificate
2. One of these documents:
   - Medicare Card
   - Australian driver licence or learner permit
   One of these first two documents must have your photo. You can’t use photos or scanned copies of the documents, use originals.
3. A third document that’s different from the two you have above:
   - Australian Passport — current or expired less than three years, if you haven’t used it
   - Australian Birth Certificate that isn’t handwritten
   - Foreign Passport linked to a valid Australian Visa — national police check will count this as two documents
   - A valid ImmiCard
   - Australian Citizenship Certificate
   - Medicare Card
   - Australian Driver Licence or Learner Permit
   - A Marriage Certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages — not the one you received on your wedding day.
4. If the names on your document don’t match, you’ll need a change of name document or marriage certificate issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages.

If you are unable to verify your identity at Service Victoria, you may verify your identity and apply via Australia Post.

You can verify your identity online with Australia Post and then go to Australia Post to lodge the application in person. If you can't verify your identity online with Australia Post, you still complete the online application but verify your identity in person when you go to Australia Post to lodge the application.
 

Applicants who need assistance to apply for their WWC Check can contact the Customer Service centre of the Working with Children Check Victoria on 1300 652 879 for assistance with the application process. 

Where your position does not clearly fit under one of the listed occupational fields listed on the Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria’s website, select ‘Clubs and Associations (42)’. 

A person registered as a teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is exempt from requiring a WWC clearance and may instead submit their VIT registration card. However, they will need to submit an online form directly to Working with Children Check Victoria outlining the details of their work for Council. Council will not cover the VIT renewal registration fee.