Do you know when your WWCC expires?
If you work in a school, your valid WWCC clearance is exactly like your valid passport - it allows you to “go to work” in a school. If it expires NESA will suspend your teacher accreditation, there are no extenuating circumstances, temporary waivers or emergency alternatives for you. You cannot “go” and it is effective immediately.
The Children’s Guardian can continuously monitor the people working with children and advise schools (employers) should anyone become barred through the continuous monitoring process.
AISNSW is aware of school staff not being able to work in any child-related role within their school, and teachers having their accreditation suspended because their WWCC has expired. Several schools have reported delays where renewal applications have not been finalised, before the current WWCC expires - and consequently staff are not able to come to work. In some cases teachers have not been able to work for a number of weeks while they wait for their new WWCC clearance and they then have to wait for NESA to lift the suspension on their accreditation.
If you work in a school you need to apply for your WWCC renewal as soon as you receive the reminder from the Office of the Children’s Guardian, 3 months prior to it expiring, as it is currently routinely taking at least 4 weeks to process applications and often longer if they need new/additional identification documents. You can easily check your WWCC expiry date on the Service NSW app.
NESA and the Children’s Guardian can monitor, impose accreditation suspensions and bar school personnel
One of the strengths of the NSW system is that it is underpinned by ongoing, continuous checking. The Office of the Children’s Guardian can continuously monitor the people working with children and advise schools (employers) should anyone become barred through the continuous monitoring process.
Once you receive confirmation of your new WWCC clearance, you need to notify your school, and if you are a teacher also notify NESA if your accreditation has been suspended. You will not be able to return to the classroom until NESA lifts your suspension.
There are new identification requirements since 2019
The WWCC proof of identity document requirements changed on 1 December 2019 resulting in some people having to update or source new identification documents in order to submit their renewal application as they may need more documentation than they did for their previous application. In many cases this is taking a number of weeks to arrange before the application can be submitted, adding to the total length of time for an application to be renewed. This is particularly the case where staff have had a change of name, or have a middle name that is not identified on all of their existing documents.
Don’t leave it until the school holidays
If your renewal is in the coming months watch out if you are thinking of leaving it until the summer holidays. The Christmas shutdown may see further delays in renewals – and you could find yourself not able to start work in the new school year. Individuals can apply for renewal 3 months prior to the expiry of their current WWCC.
Further information about WWCC requirements is available on the Office of the Children’s Guardian website.
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