Working With Children Check (WWCC)

All people working with children under 18 years old in the PCV are required to have a current Victorian Working With Children Check (WWC Check) OR, in the case of Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registered teachers, notify Working With Children Check Victoria (via the website) of their role with the PCV. No person will be permitted to work with children under 18 in any PCV ministry or activity without a current WWC Check.

See www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

Other appointed church leaders

In October 2014 the State Government of Victoria enacted changes to the Victorian Working With Children Check (WWC Check). For the purposes of the legislation a minister of religion is anyone ordained or appointed as a recognised religious leader in an organised religious institution or an appointed leader of a local religious organisation in an institution who has general authority over operations or some of the operations of the congregation in the institution.

Advice given to the Safe Church Unit during consultation with the State Government means that the broadened scope of the WWC Check will mean that the following people in the PCV require a WWC Check in addition to those already holding a WWC Check due to participation in child-related activities:

  • Ministers - regardless of whether or not their congregation includes children

  • Elders – this includes Presbytery and Assembly members

  • Board Members

  • Appointed leaders of any ministry in the congregation – this includes music leaders, Bible study leaders, and specific ministry leaders (for example women’s ministry or English teaching ministry leaders) - regardless of whether or not their ministry area includes ministry to children

  • Supply Preachers

  • Safe Church Representatives

The legislation is broad in nature and on advice the PCV will err on the side of complete coverage. The message from government is that the WWC Check is the minimum standard and organisations should be careful to ensure that all appointed leaders have a WWC Check. The updated recommendation from the SCU is that all appointed leaders acquire a WWC Check regardless of whether or not their congregation has children attending. This is the most protective approach for leaders, the local church and the denomination.

WWC Check holders who serve and work in the PCV are required to list:

  1. The PCV church (or churches) and/or PCV organisation in which the holder serves and/or works

  2. The Presbyterian Church of Victoria (the denomination).

Registering for a new WWCC or Renewing your Expiring WWCC

Application for new WWCC or renewal of an expiring check can be achieved on-line:

https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check

or at a local Post Office.

Service Victoria require an email address for each organisation with whom a Working With Children Check card holder is associated. A WWCC renewal or application cannot proceed without entering an email address for each organisation.

Hence, for any PCV paid or volunteer employees that are updating their WWCC, or applying for a WWCC, or registering the PCV as a listed organisation on their WWCC details, please use the PCV contact details as below:

Address:

Presbyterian Church of Victoria
Mezzanine
156 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000

Phone:

03 9650 9311

Email:

scu.compliance@pcv.org.au