WWC Checks - Stay up to date!
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Working with Children Check - September 2026
Changes are here: banned in one, banned in all
The Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 now mutually recognises negative outcomes across states and territories, known in Western Australia (WA) as an adverse interstate Working with Children (WWC) decision.
The changes are designed to strengthen protections for children and young people by recognising adverse WWC Check decisions made in other Australian states and territories.
Put simply: banned in one, banned in all.
This means that if a person has been refused a WWC Check, had their WWC Card revoked, or had certain restrictions or conditions imposed in another state or territory, that decision will now be recognised in WA.
An adverse interstate WWC decision remains current until the original negative outcome is cancelled under the corresponding law. These changes are part of broader national reforms aimed at creating a more consistent approach to WWC Checks and improving child safety across Australia.
Find out more in our new factsheet and on our website. You can also enrol in one of our free online information sessions via our Eventbrite page.
Please note, work to progress Phase 2 reforms to WA’s WWC law is underway. The reforms will be informed by recommendations of the Royal Commission's WWC Checks Report and feedback from the 2025 public consultation. National reform discussions are also progressing concurrently, to respond to priority actions of the Standing Council of Attorney's-General Agreement to Deliver National WWC Check Reform.
WWC fees unchanged
WWC Check application fees for 2026-27 remain at $87 for paid employees and self-employed people and $11 for volunteers, unpaid workers, students on unpaid placement and replacement cards.
This supports the WA Government's commitment to keeping costs affordable for people undertaking child-related work.
Paid application fees have remained unchanged since 2019-20, while fees for volunteers, unpaid workers, students on unpaid placement and replacement cards unchanged since 2015-16.
All fees are GST-free.
Visit our website for information about the application and renewal process.
Every conversation matters
On 8 September, the Community Engagement team attended Every Conversation Matters: Building Child Safe Organisations in WA at the City of Stirling.
Delivered by the Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) as part of the Child Safe Project, the event brought together organisations committed to implementing the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Speakers included representatives from the Council of Aboriginal Services WA, Ombudsman WA, Anglicare WA and Child Australia.
The forum provided an opportunity to connect with stakeholders and organisations across the sector, while sharing information about the WWC Check as part of the broader child safety conversation.
For more information about child safety, visit the Department of Communities' Child Safe Organisations Knowledge Hub.
Stay compliant: report changes
WWC card holders and applicants must notify the WWC Screening Unit of relevant changes to their details or circumstances.
This includes changes to your name, residential address or contact details as well as starting or ceasing a child-related work role.
Failure to notify the WWC Screening Unit of these changes is an offence under the Act and may result in prosecution.
For more information, see Factsheet APP02: Change in particulars, Updating of details
