Working with Children - logo
The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a screening process for assessing or re-assessing people who work with or care for children in Victoria. It is a current check and ongoing cross-check of criminal records for sex, drug or violence offences, with notification to our Club and Life Saving Victoria.
WHY IS KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IMPORTANT?

Keeping children safe is not just a moral obligation for Life Saving Victoria and its members, the State of Victoria has now legislated a process aimed at formally protecting children (U18) from physical and sexual harm. Therefore to ensure our members are operating within the legal framework, it is imperative that all members over 18 years obtain a WWCC. Please note that this is a mandatory requirement and includes police officers who are normally regarded as exempt under the Act**

TO OBTAIN A NEW WWCC:

  1. http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ and complete an online application form.
    Note: Before completing the form online, make sure you have a printer of reasonable quality and Adobe Acrobat Reader or Open Office to print a summary of your application. The Application Summary and Receipt must be printed on separate pages of A4 paper (i.e. single-sided) without any scaling or cropping. 
  2. Organisation 1:
    Life Saving Victoria, PO Box 353, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Phone: 03 9676 6900
    Organisation 2: 
    Mount Martha Life Saving Club, PO Box 462, Mount Martha VIC 3934, Phone: 03 5974 4140
  3. Occupational fields please use the Code Number 42.Other Organisation –
  4. Provide 100 point identification and lodge your application at a participating Australia Post retail outlet, where they will take your photo and prove your identity. 
  5. Your membership will remain pending until we receive confirmation of your Working with Children Check, this can take between 2-4 weeks.

Once approved the Department of Justice will notify the club. The WWCC is valid for five (5) years. You will receive a letter explaining how to renew your card prior to it expiring.

NEED TO ADD MMLSC TO YOUR CURRENT WWCC:

  1. Go to http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
  2. Click on MyCheck Account
  3. Register if you do not have a WWCC account or Login
  4. Click Change my details
  5. Scroll down half way to add an organisation
  6. Organisation 1::
    Life Saving Victoria, PO Box 353, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Phone: 03 9676 6900
    Organisation 2: 
    Mount Martha Life Saving Club, PO Box 462, Mount Martha VIC 3934, Phone: 03 5974 4140
  7. Occupational fields please use the Code Number 42.Other Organisation –
  8. Click Submit to confirm details
  9. No further action required; Department of Justice will send us confirmation of your WWCC, this can take up to 2 weeks.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE A CARD?

The WWCC looks for criminal activity relevant to the physical and sexual safety of children under 18 years of age. If a member has their application denied, they are issued with a Negative Notice by the Victorian Department of Justice. The member (applicant) and Life Saving Victoria’s CEO will be informed. It is important to understand that Life Saving Victoria maintains strict adherence to privacy legislation which regulates such personal information being broadcast to a wider audience.

If a member does have their application denied, they cannot be a member of Mount Martha Life Saving Club or Life Saving Victoria.

VIT Registered Teachers – must inform WWCCV of any other child related work (ie membership of MMLSC) and WWCCV will inform the club. Click here to notify WWCCV https://service.vic.gov.au/services/teachers-notifications/ 

** Exemptions Clarification regarding persons exempt under the Act – Police Officers:-
The Working with Children Act 2005 provides for exemptions to Police Officers. Life Saving Victoria requires these people to have a WWCC – despite their exemption under the Act. The reason being that if a Police Officer who is a member of staff of LSV or of an associated Life Saving Club commits an offence, Life Saving Victoria needs to be notified. If Life Saving Victoria is not listed as the staff or volunteers’ employer or relevant organisation, the Department of Justice and Department of Education would be informed but Life Saving Victoria and the club would not. As a result, a Police Officer who is a member of a club could have committed an offence and still be interacting with children. For this reason, Life Saving Victoria requires all members over the age of 18 to have a valid WWCC specific to Life Saving Victoria and Mount Martha Life Saving Club. The WWCC creates that vital link to ensure any alleged breaches (despite employment) can be picked up by the Department of Justice, who then reviews and if deemed appropriate, informs all relevant voluntary organisations.