WA Working With Children Checks Now Recognise Interstate Decisions

WA Working With Children Checks Now Recognise Interstate Decisions

As of 25 August 2026, the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 has been formally amended to include provisions that recognise adverse decisions made interstate.

What happened

The Working with Children (Screening) Amendment Act 2026, assented to on 25 August 2026, introduces crucial changes to Western Australia's child safety screening laws. This legislative update specifically incorporates definitions and procedures for recognising adverse interstate Working with Children (WWC) decisions. The amendment ensures that decisions made about an individual's suitability to work with children in other Australian states will now be considered within WA's assessment and notification processes. This aligns with the intent of the Working with Children (Screening) Amendment Bill 2025, which aimed to implement mutual recognition of negative checks across jurisdictions.

What this means for you

If you hold or are applying for a Working with Children (WWC) card in Western Australia, this amendment is significant. It means that a negative decision or a refusal of a WWC check in another state could now impact your ability to obtain or maintain a WWC card in WA. Employers and organisations in WA that rely on WWC checks for their staff and volunteers will need to be aware that interstate assessments can now directly influence the screening outcomes for individuals operating within their services. This is particularly relevant given the broader efforts to enhance child protection, as seen in other legislative amendments impacting child and community services, such as those detailed in tabled paper 10c35cc3-66eb-4739-ae6a-099e155b156b.

What this means for WA

This legislative change signals a step towards greater national consistency in child protection measures. By formally recognising interstate adverse decisions, Western Australia is aligning itself with efforts to prevent individuals who may pose a risk from circumventing checks by moving between states. This move reinforces the commitment to safeguarding children and enhances the integrity of the WWC screening system across the country. The National Working with Children Check Reform Agreement, previously tabled as tabled paper 74310c6d-b727-41c0-8750-f7c4937cecbb, foreshadowed such inter-jurisdictional cooperation, and this Act now implements key aspects of that agreement within WA.

The numbers

The Working with Children (Screening) Amendment Act 2026 officially came into effect on 25 August 2026. This Act amends the foundational Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004. The amendment specifically introduces definitions for adverse interstate decisions and establishes procedures for their recognition. Previously, such interstate decisions might not have been automatically considered, creating potential gaps. This legislative update aims to close those gaps, ensuring a more robust and nationally aligned approach to child safety. You can explore the legislative history and related documents, such as the National Working with Children Check Reform Agreement (tabled paper 74310c6d-b727-41c0-8750-f7c4937cecbb), on GovScanner.

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