Strengthening child safety through changes to Working with Children Check reviews
Significant changes are now in effect for how Working with Children Check (WWCC) reviews are managed in New South Wales. The legislation aims to strengthen the state’s child safety framework by giving the Office of the Children’s Guardian full responsibility for reviewing WWCC decisions.
All WWCC administrative reviews will now be managed by the Office of the Children’s Guardian, the state’s independent child safety regulator, replacing the previous external review process through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
This is being done to create a more consistent and expert approach to decision-making and reviews, better aligning with community expectations.
The legislation also ensures all negative notices from interstate jurisdictions will automatically apply in NSW, including people subject to interim bars in other states and territories.
People seeking a review of certain decisions on their National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Check (NDISWC) will now no longer be able to seek an external review through NCAT.
“These changes mark an important step in safeguarding children, young people, and individuals living with a disability in NSW,” said Acting Children's Guardian Rachael Ward.
“Children and young people deserve to feel safe, and parents and carers should feel confident that they are making the best possible decisions when it comes to child safety.”
