A Police Check is not a Working with Children Check
The Working with Children Check and a Police Check are different checks. Depending on what your organisation requires, you might need both.
What is a Police Check?
A Police Check is not an assessment, like the Check, but a list of findings. You might need a Police Check when you start a new job, volunteer or do work experience. Your employer might use a Police Check to assess your suitability for other kinds of work.
Related tasks
For example, Emily is applying for a job in a clothing store. The retailer might want to check for fraud offences because they’re recruiting for a role with access to cash.
How is a Working with Children Check different?
Under the Worker Screening Act 2020 (the Act) if you’re doing child-related work and are not otherwise exempt under the Act, you must have a Check even if you already have a Police Check.
The main differences between a Working with Children Check and a Police Check are:
- A Police Check won’t allow you to do child-related work in Victoria
- You can’t pass or fail a Police Check, but you will pass or fail a Working with Children Check
- A Working with Children Check card is valid for 5 years (unless suspended, surrendered or revoked), but a Police Check only provides results as at the date of issue
- When you apply for a Check, we review professional conduct determinations and findings from prescribed bodies listed in the Act. A Police Check doesn’t.
- We are notified by other regulators and prescribed bodies about changes to your circumstances while your Working with Children Check card is valid. A Police Check only provides a snapshot as at the date of the check, with no future information provided.
If you’re not sure whether or not you need a Check, try our interactive tool.