Compliance Guide · Updated 18 May 2026
State-by-state guide to the Working with Children Check and equivalents for Australian tutors and music teachers. Costs, validity, application timelines, and penalties for working uncleared.
State-by-State
Each Australian state and territory has its own working-with-children regime. They differ in name (WWCC, Blue Card, WWVP, Ochre Card), cost, validity period, and the authority that issues them.
Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Authority
Office of the Children's Guardian (OCG)
Cost
$91 paid (5 years) · Free for volunteers
Validity
5 years
Processing time
Typically 2–4 weeks · longer if criminal history check required
Apply online via Service NSW, then attend a Service NSW centre with 100 points of ID. Cleared applicants receive a WWCC number, not a card. Employers verify online via the OCG website. Continuous national-police monitoring throughout the 5 years.
Official information →Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Authority
Service Victoria · Department of Government Services
Cost
$129.10 paid (5 years) · Free for volunteers
Validity
5 years
Processing time
Most applications cleared in 1–3 weeks · up to 12 weeks with criminal record review
Apply online, lodge ID at Australia Post. Card issued by mail; verify online. Two categories: Employee (paid) and Volunteer (free). A volunteer card cannot be used for paid work — upgrade if you transition.
Official information →Blue Card (Working with Children Check)
Authority
Blue Card Services (Department of Justice and Attorney-General)
Cost
$103 paid (3 years) · Free for volunteers and students
Validity
3 years
Processing time
Typically 1–4 weeks for clean histories · up to 12 weeks with police review
Apply via the Blue Card Services online portal. Requires a linked organisation in most cases — for self-employed tutors, you can apply as an 'individual under business arrangement'. Card has tighter restrictions than other states' WWCCs.
Official information →Working with Children Card (WWC Card)
Authority
Department of Communities (WWC Screening Unit)
Cost
$87 paid (3 years) · Free for volunteers
Validity
3 years
Processing time
2–6 weeks typical · application invalid if not paid within 28 days
Apply via Australia Post in person. Negative notices (refusals) are reviewable through the State Administrative Tribunal. Holders must notify the WWC Screening Unit of any charges within the validity period.
Official information →Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Authority
DHS Screening Unit (Department of Human Services)
Cost
$129.80 paid (5 years) · ~$59 for volunteers
Validity
5 years
Processing time
Most applications 1–6 weeks · DHS publishes wait-time updates monthly
Successor to the older Child-Related Employment Screening (DCSI). Single national check accepted across child-related industries. Apply online via the DHS Screening Unit portal with 100 points of ID and a nominated linked organisation.
Official information →Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP)
Authority
CBOS (Consumer, Building and Occupational Services)
Cost
$127.21 paid (3 years) · Free for volunteers
Validity
3 years
Processing time
Typically 2–4 weeks · application invalid after 6 weeks if ID not submitted
Covers both children and other vulnerable persons. Two purposes can be added: 'Child-Related Activity' and/or 'NDIS Worker'. Tutors should ensure 'Child-Related Activity' is included.
Official information →Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Registration
Authority
Access Canberra
Cost
$110 paid (3 years) · Free for volunteers
Validity
3 years
Processing time
Most applications cleared in 2–8 weeks
ACT uses a vulnerable-persons framework rather than child-specific. Covers tutors, sports coaches, NDIS workers. Renewal reminder issued 90 days before expiry — do not let it lapse mid-term.
Official information →Working with Children Clearance Notice (Ochre Card)
Authority
SAFE NT (NT Department of the Attorney-General and Justice)
Cost
$93 paid (2 years) · Free for volunteers
Validity
2 years
Processing time
Typically 2–6 weeks
Card is bright ochre-coloured (hence the nickname). Shortest validity period in Australia — diary the renewal date. Photo ID required for in-person submission at a SAFE NT location.
Official information →Penalties
Working with children without a current check, or not notifying the authority of changes, is a criminal offence in every state. Fines are substantial and imprisonment is possible in serious cases.
Engaging in child-related work without holding a current WWCC / equivalent is a criminal offence in every state. Penalties include fines (up to $24,000+ in NSW) and imprisonment in serious cases.
Lending your card or check number to another person is an offence. Each individual must hold their own current check.
If you are charged with a relevant offence during your check's validity, you must notify the issuing authority — typically within 7 days. Failure is itself an offence.
Refused, cancelled, or suspended checks must not be used. Working under one carries the most serious penalties — including potential prosecution.
Some states take up to 12 weeks for clearance. Start your application before you publish your tutor profile or take enquiries — most parents won't book without seeing your check number.
Most states send renewal reminders 90 days before expiry. Don't wait — re-apply immediately. A lapsed WWCC means you must stop tutoring until renewed.
If you tutor across state borders (Sydney/Canberra, Albury/Wodonga, Tweed/Coolangatta), you may need checks in multiple jurisdictions. They aren't mutually recognised between all states.
Even if a charge doesn't relate to child safety, most state authorities require you to disclose it within 7 days. Set a calendar reminder if anything is pending.
No — there is no single national WWCC. Each state and territory runs its own scheme with its own authority, fee, and validity period. If you tutor across borders (e.g., a Sydney tutor visiting Canberra clients) you generally need a check in each jurisdiction where you work. Some states have partial recognition arrangements; check the relevant state authorities before relying on a single check.
For applicants with a clean record, most states clear applications in 1–4 weeks. Applications involving police record review, recent charges, or other complexity can take 8–12 weeks. Apply well before you start tutoring — you cannot legally take paid work with under-18s until your check is issued.
Yes — most states require a check for volunteer child-related work, but most offer the volunteer version free of charge. The volunteer category cannot be used for paid work; you must upgrade to the employee/paid category if you begin charging fees. Check your state's specific definitions of 'child-related work'.
Generally no. Most states require the check to be cleared before you commence paid work. Some employer-supervised settings allow conditional commencement once an application has been lodged and acknowledged — but for self-employed tutors this rarely applies. Apply early, wait for clearance.
Refusals are reviewable in every state — typically through a state administrative tribunal (e.g., NCAT in NSW, VCAT in VIC, SAT in WA). Engage a solicitor early if you receive a notice of intent to refuse. Reasons range from relevant criminal history to incomplete disclosure on the application form.
Yes — most state authorities define child-related work broadly enough to include online tutoring of under-18 students. The check is tied to your activity (teaching minors), not the physical setting. If your students are interstate, you should hold a WWCC for the jurisdiction in which you are based, and confirm interstate requirements where applicable.
OneBookPlus stores your WWCC details, parent consents, and lesson records in one place — so you can prove compliance fast and focus on teaching.
Last reviewed and updated: by Bishal Shrestha