Working with Children (WWC)
Policy & Procedure

ABBREVIATIONS:

WWC     Working With Children
MPIO    Member Protection Information Officer
OCG       Office of the Children’s Guardian
MPD      Member Protection Declaration

FOR MORE INFO:

Working with Children Check Webpage
FNSW Member Protection webpage 
www.playbytherules.net.au
www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au 

KEY CONTACTS:

Lindfield FC
LFC MPIO: memberprotection@lindfieldfc.com.au
LFC Secretary: secretary@lindfieldfc.com.au

NSW Office of the Children's Guardian
WWC Check Phone:   02 9286 7219 
Website:   kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au 

Football NSW Member Support
Phone: 02 8814 4402 
E: michelle@footballnsw.com.au

Working with Children Check

 INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS AND PAID EMPLOYEES IN FOOTBALL

  • The WWC Check is a FNSW and NSW Government requirement

  • All paid employees and volunteers working with children aged under 18, MUST have a WWC Number.

  • A WWC Check is free for volunteers 

  • A WWC Check costs $80 for paid workers

  • Persons requiring a WWC Number must apply on-line for a WWC Check

  • A WWC Number lasts 5 years

Before anyone aged 18 or over, commences their role at LFC, they must:

  • Provide our LFC MPIO with their family name, date of birth and WWC Number.

  • The LFC MPIO will verify their WWC status.

  • The LFC MPIO will notify the LFC Committee and the applicant the results of their WWC check.

    • If clearance is not received, the applicant will be told by a Committee member or the LFC MPIO they were unsuccessful with their application and will be unable to work with children at LFC.
       

I don’t have a WWC Number, how do I apply for one?

  1. Apply for a WWC Check online

  2. Keep a note of the Application (APP) number

  3. Take your APP number and Proof of ID to a NSW Service Centre (Motor Registry) and complete the process.

  4. Persons in a paid role will need to pay an $80 fee at the motor registry, voluntary WWC is free.

  5. Your WWC Number is issued by email usually within 2 week

  6. Once the Applicant has lodged their WWC application at a NSW Service Centre they need to provide the LFC MPIO with their Application Number, Name and Date of Birth.

What Roles require a WWC Number in football? 

  • All paid roles that involve supervising or working with children under 18;

  • Volunteer Coaches and Managers;

  • Trainers, technical directors, youth coordinators;

  • Committee members, MPIOs, tour chaperones;

  • Referee coaches and referee mentors; and 

  • Any other role working with children under 18.

The following are NOT EXEMPT  from providing a WWC number:

  • Parents volunteering at an overnight camp or tour involving children under 18 years of age

  • Parents coaching or managing their own child’s team are NOT exempt (refer FNSW Policy)

  • Referees are NOT exempt (refer FNSW Policy)

  • Police Officers, Corrections Officers and School Teachers are not exempt

  • Committee members are not exempt, even if their own child attends the club

Exemptions

The following are exempt in football from providing a WWC number:

  • Persons under 18 years of age

 

WWC FAQs

  • If you have lost your WWC Number, it can be retrieved online at the NSW Kids Guardian website

    • All paid persons who work with children under 18 years

    • All volunteers who work with children under 18 years, unless exempt

    • Coaches, managers, trainers, youth co-ordinators, technical directors, MPIOs, chaperones, tour directors, Committee members or Board members who assist with the delivery of activities, events or functions that involve children aged under 18 and any other person working or volunteering with children.

    • Persons who mentor or directly supervise children under 18 years.

    • Referee coaches, referee mentors, referee assessors

  • ONLY Persons under the age of 18 years

    • Parents and close relatives with children in the team who are coaching or managing.

    • Police Officers

    • School Teachers

    • Persons working with children U18 in a paid role

    • Trainers, youth co-ordinators, technical directors, physios, first aid officers, MPIOs, chaperones, tour directors, Committee members or Board members who assist with the delivery of activities, events or functions that involve children aged under 18 and any other person working or volunteering with children.

    • Persons who have relocated to NSW and hold a working with children blue card or clearance from another State are not exempt.

  • Any payment, honorarium, lump sum, out of pocket expenses including in cash or kind such as discounted player fees. It is not payment where reimbursement is paid and a receipt for expenses is provided.

  • They cannot work or volunteer with children under 18 years.

  •    Apply online at kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au

  •    Yes, all paid employees, including existing employees who work with children must apply for a WWC Check and provide their WWC Number to their employer. 

  •  5 years

    • Paid position WWC1234567E    

    • Volunteer position WWC1234567V

  • No. You must go on-line and upgrade to a WWC for paid employees.

  • Yes, a paid WWC Number that ends in an 'E' can be used for both paid and volunteer positions. 

Working With Children Policy

This Working With Children Check (WWC) Policy sets out a procedure for Lindfield Football Club (LFC) to follow to ensure they comply with the Working With Children Check Protocol mandated by FNSW and NSW legislation.
 
This Policy applies to any adult (anyone aged 18 years of age and over) working with children (anyone aged under 18 years of age) in their role with LFC.
 
What is the Working With Children Check?
A WWC Check is a requirement for people who work or volunteer in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct. The result of a WWC Check is either a clearance to work with children for five years, or a bar against working with children. Cleared applicants are subject to ongoing monitoring and relevant new records may lead to the clearance being revoked. The WWC Check is fully portable so it can be used for any paid or unpaid child-related work in NSW for as long as the worker remains cleared.
 
Legislation
There are three Acts that legislate sporting clubs in NSW must have a WWC Policy:
1. Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

  • Help protect children from child abuse, and support their safety, welfare and well‐ being.

  • Not permit certain persons to engage in child‐related work.

  • Require persons engaged in child related work to have working with children check clearance

2. Child Protection (Working With Children) Regulations 2013

  • Defines how sporting organisations must follow this legislation.

  • Defines the roles that require a working with children check clearance.

3. Child Protection (Working with Children) Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2013

  • Provides amendments to the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

Roles at LFC that require a WWC Check
The following child‐related roles at LFC require a WWC Check:

  • All paid child‐related workers

  • Volunteer coaches, managers, trainers, physiotherapists, technical directors and youth coordinators working with children in LFC,

  • All Committee members and the MPIO for LFC

Exemptions
The following are not required to apply for a WWC Check or provide a WWC Number:

  • Persons under 18 years of age

  • Grounds persons

  • Guest presenters or speakers for a one-off presentation

  • Persons who work or volunteer with children visiting NSW from another State to attend an event where the work in NSW will be for no more than 30 days in a calendar year.

Who is not exempt
FNSW rules have changed. The following are no longer exempt and so are required to apply for a WWC Check or provide a WWC Number:

  • Parents coaching or managing their own child’s team are no longer exempt (refer FNSW Policy)

  • Referees are no longer exempt (refer FNSW Policy)

  • Police Officers and School Teachers are not exempt

  • Committee members are not exempt, even if their own child attends the club

  • Referee coaches, referee mentors and referee assessors are not exempt

  • Persons who have relocated to NSW and hold a working with children clearance from another state are not exempt

Note: there are NO EXEMPTIONS for persons in a paid position working with children.

Definition: A close relative is defined as a spouse or de facto partner of a person; or a child, step-child, sibling, step-sibling, parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew of the person.

Nominated Contact people:
In accordance with the above legislation, LFC has been registered with the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG). Two people from LFC are required to be registered with the OCG to ensure WWC Policy is in place, the Policy is followed, and any adults that have their WWC check clearance barred, will be stood down from working with LFC immediately.  The two people nominated by LFC are the Member Protection Information Officer and Secretary.
 
People that become barred:
If the OCG contacts either nominated person from LFC to notify them that an adult has had their WWC status barred or has been placed on an interim bar, the following will occur:

  • The LFC MPIO will notify the LFC Committee the specified person working with children at LFC have had their WWC clearance barred.

  • A member of the LFC Committee or the LFC MPIO will contact the specified person within 24hours to notify them that:

  1. If their WWC check clearance has been barred, they are no longer able to continue their role with LFC, effective immediately.

  2. If their WWC check clearance has been barred on the interim, they will be told to stand down from their role immediately until further information is received from the OCG.

  • If cleared, the LFC MPIO will notify the relevant person they can return to their role with LFC.

When a person refuses to get a WWC Check
If a person refused to provide a WWC number they are not able to work with children at LFC.
 
Record Keeping

  • The WWC Check records are maintained by the LFC MPIO. The paper work is stored by the LFC MPIO.

  • The LFC MPIO will maintain electronic databases, including the Verification Record Spreadsheet.

  • The LFC MPIO will provide a copy of the Verification Record Spreadsheet to the LFC Secretary. If the MPIO is not available, the Secretary will become the next point of contact.
     

Process to obtain WWC Check clearance
A WWC Check clearance ceases to have effect 5 years after the date it was granted, unless it is cancelled or surrendered within that 5 year period.

A new clearance can be requested within 3 months of expiry of the current clearance.

Many adults working with LFC will have clearances from previous years. If a WWC clearance has expired or they do not have one, they will require a WWC clearance before commencing their role at LFC.
 
Behaviour reported as misconduct
If any behaviour is reported the following steps may be taken by the LFC Committee Members and MPIO:

  • Ascertain whether the issue can be resolved privately between parties (once informed of an issue many people are able to alter their behaviour accordingly).

  • Have an objective person speak with the person about their alleged behaviour.

  • Monitor the person to observe the reported behaviour.

  • Show the Code of Conduct to the person in question, and highlight the area of concern.

  • Brainstorm a way similar issues will not occur in the future.

  • An objective person will be appointed to speak with the children of the team and their coach and manager about what is considered inappropriate behaviour and who to tell if something concerns them (their parent, their coach, a friend, a friend’s parent).

  • Mentor the person to improve his/her behaviour.

  • Mediation between the aggrieved parties with a representative from LFC being the objective mediator.

  • An apology from the perpetrator to the victim.

  • Completion of Play by the Rules online training module.

  • Completion of an accredited coaching course at Football NSW.

  • Issue a written warning to the person about their behaviour.

  • Suspend the person from their role for a period of time.

  • Dismiss the person from their role.

 
The MPIO will report suspected child abuse or neglect to the FaCS helpline (ph: 132 111).
 
Communication and support for staff

  • This Policy will be circulated by email to the LFC Committee Members, Age Managers and Coaches of LFC each year before the winter season commences to promote our obligations under the WWC Check Protocol.

  • The Policy will also be posted on the LFC Policies page on the Club’s website so it can be readily accessed by everyone.

  • Details for the current MPIO will be on the LFC Contact page on the Club’s website.