Working with children check

People working or volunteering with children in South Australia must, by law, have a Working with Children Check.

A Working with Children Check is an assessment of whether a person poses an unacceptable risk to children. As part of the process, the Screening Unit will look at criminal history, child protection information and other information.

A valid DHS/DCSI child-related employment check will be recognised as a Working with Children Check until it expires. Then, you must apply for a new Working with Children Check.

Some people who have applied for a working with children check are permitted to work with children while their application is being processed. This temporary measure has been introduced to minimise the impact of workforce shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For information see 'work on application' provision.

Quick links

• Who needs a Working with Children Check?
• Who does not need a Working with Children Check?
• What is child-related work?
• What is not child-related work?
• Volunteering with children
• Information assessed
• Apply for a check
• Fees and how to pay
• Working with Children Check infographic – updated May 2020 (PDF 521.3 KB)
• Working with Children Check infographic in plain text - updated May 2020
• Working with Children Check information kit – updated May 2020 (PDF 3.2 MB)
• Work on application provision

Do you have a current check?

Apply for a check

Only the Department of Human Services Screening Unit can conduct a Working with Children Check.

You can apply for your own check, or an organisation can apply for a check on behalf of a paid employee or volunteer.

Keep up to date

Subscribe to the DHS Screening Unit newsletter to stay up-to-date with changes.

Email wwcc@sa.gov.au.

Related information

• Frequently asked questions about Working with Children Checks
• Working with Children Check Guidelines - July 2019
• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
• South Australian Child Protection Systems Royal Commission (also known as the Nyland Report)
• Working with Children Check - Information for Organisations - March 2020 (PDF 402.8 KB)
• Legislation
• South Australian Department of Child Protection
• Relevant history screening for the South Australian Department of Education
• Each state and territory in Australia is different and has its own procedures around working with children. Find out more about working with children checks outside of South Australia:
  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • Queensland
  • Western Australia
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • Northern Territory
  • Tasmania