All leaders 18 years old and over who will come into contact with children (Victoria’s definition of children is under 18 years old) are required by law to obtain a Working With Children check (WWC check). This check is undertaken by the Department of Justice, is valid for 5 years and is available for volunteers and paid employees.

WWC check is free for volunteers and can be used across a number of places where the volunteering is happening. For NCYC 09 all leaders will be required to hold a WWC check, and unable to lead if they do not have one. Those leaders under 18 years of age will be required to complete an application form listing referees for consultation.

A WWC card will be issued when the application has been processed and approved. This card has photo id on it and MUST be carried with you at all times. Once you have received your card you need to send a photocopy of that card the Uniting Youth Ministries office (1 Morrison Close Parkville 3052) for our records.

Obtaining a Working with Children Check

A Working with Children Check application form can be obtained from your local post office. Your post office is also the place where you lodge the form, along with identification equalling 100 points and a passport sized photo.

The application form must be filled in with black ink and you will need to read the guide before you fill in the form. The form takes up the last 4 pages of the guide.

The WWC check application form allows a volunteer/employee to list a primary organisation that they volunteer at or are employed by. If you are volunteering within your own congregation please list this as your primary organisation. You can then register volunteering for NCYC 09 as an additional organisation.

For NCYC you will say that the name of the organisation is The Uniting Church of Australia, Vic/Tas Synod.
The address is 1 Morrison Close Parkville Victoria 3052, and the HR Contact person telephone number is 9340 8815.
The Code number is 64 (religious organisation).

The decision has been made within the Uniting Church that all teachers who volunteer with children in congregations, agencies and events will need to obtain a WWC check. This is an organisational decision that is placed upon UCA volunteers even though it is not required by the Dept of Justice.

Any questions please contact the Youth Ministry Unit of the Centre for Theology and Ministry on 9340 8815 or uym@ctm.uca.edu.au.