Working with Children Check

WWCC in New South Wales, Blue Card in Queensland, Working with Children Check in Victoria, and equivalents elsewhere are separate registers. A clearance in one state is not automatically valid in another. A national police check is a different document and does not replace a Working with Children Check where the role requires one.

Key takeaways

• State-by-state scheme: Each Australian state and territory runs its own Working with Children Check register with separate application processes.
• Not portable: A clearance in NSW does not automatically cover work in Victoria, Queensland, or any other state.
• Blue Card is Queensland’s version: Queensland calls its check a Blue Card, but it is the same category of screening, not a national card.
• Police check is not enough: A national police check is a different document and does not substitute for a WWCC where child-related work requires one.

Common questions

What is a Working with Children Check?

A Working with Children Check is an Australian state or territory screening scheme for people in child-related work. Checks are not automatically portable across borders. Queensland’s version is the Blue Card.

Is a Working with Children Check valid in other Australian states?

No. Each state runs a separate register — WWCC in NSW, Blue Card in Queensland, WWCC in Victoria, and equivalents elsewhere. A clearance in one state is not automatically valid in another; workers moving across borders typically need to apply in the new state.