For adult volunteers (18+) in Victorian community sport, such as coaches, managers and helpers, under the rules in force from 19 October 2026. Covers who needs a check, exemptions, cost, new training, validity, WWC Connect and volunteer to employee changes.
You need a check if all five of these apply:
Coaching a sports team is given as an example of child-related volunteer work. A plumber working at a junior sports clubroom is the example of incidental contact that does not need a check.
Some organisations also have their own policies on who needs a check, and you need one if your organisation requires it.
Yes. Parents do not need a check to volunteer in an activity their child participates in or normally participates in.
Other exemptions:
Exemptions do not apply if you have previously failed a check and been given a WWC Exclusion. Even if you are exempt, you need a check if your organisation requires one.
No. A volunteer clearance, its renewal and a replacement volunteer card are free. Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses do not change your eligibility for a volunteer clearance.
Fees for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 for paid child-related work are an employee clearance $139.20, renewal of an employee clearance $105.30, a volunteer to employee change $139.20 and a replacement employee card $8.60. Certain fees are indexed each year.
From 19 October 2026 the training is mandatory for new Working with Children Check applicants, people renewing a clearance, and volunteers applying to change to an employee clearance.
Apply online through Service Victoria at https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children, which can be done from a phone. In-person and mail-in applications are also available.
From 19 October 2026 you must complete the mandatory child safety training and provide evidence of it before the Social Services Regulator can process your application. Online applications started but not completed by 19 October 2026, including identity verification, may be deleted, and you would need to start again and complete the training.
During the application you must add the organisation or organisations that will engage you to your WWC profile.
A passed check gives a WWC Clearance valid for 5 years, unless it is suspended, cancelled or surrendered. Clearance holders are monitored on an ongoing basis, and a clearance can be suspended or revoked if new relevant information arises.
The Social Services Regulator assesses criminal records from all Australian states and territories (including charges regardless of outcome), professional conduct findings, sex offender and serious offender reporting obligations or orders, and any other information relevant to child safety risk.
After you receive your clearance:
The digital clearance is stored in the Service Victoria app, and anyone can scan its QR code to see whether it is current or expired.
Paid child-related work requires an employee clearance, which covers both paid and volunteer work. If you start paid child-related work you must switch from a volunteer to an employee clearance.
The volunteer to employee change costs $139.20 for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 and can be done online through Service Victoria. Volunteers applying for an employee clearance must complete the mandatory child safety training.
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses do not change your eligibility for a volunteer clearance.
WWC Connect is an online service run through Service Victoria, introduced on 19 October 2026. For volunteers, the organisation must:
Volunteers cannot access WWC Connect or update their own details there: the organisation does it. You must add the organisations that engage you to your WWC profile during your application. Exempt workers generally do not need connecting.
Under the WWC Connect rules, engaging someone in child-related work without a current clearance, when the organisation knows or is reckless about it, carries up to 2 years' imprisonment, or a fine of 240 penalty units ($50,184 for 2026/27), or both. For a body corporate the fine is up to 1,200 penalty units ($250,920 for 2026/27).
Failing to keep the required records is 5 penalty units ($1,045.50) for individuals, or 10 penalty units ($2,091) for a body corporate. Failing to provide required information to the Social Services Regulator is also an offence, and the page gives no penalty amount.
The Regulator says it will take a reasonable and proportionate approach to enforcement while organisations set up their systems.