Working with children checks by state for childcare

Last reviewed: 8 November 2026. Each state’s check name, agency and validity checked on the official government site linked in the table; National Quality Framework obligations checked against regulations 16, 147 and 149 of the National Regulations and ACECQA guidance on the 2026 changes, on 8 November 2026. Fees change each year, so they are not listed.

Quick answer

Everyone working in an education and care service must hold a valid working with children check before they start (a 2026 National Law change). Each state runs its own check, and a check from one state generally does not cover work in another: NSW, Victoria and SA issue a Working with Children Check valid for 5 years; Queensland issues a blue card valid for 3 years; WA’s check lasts 3 years; Tasmania and the ACT use a working with vulnerable people registration valid for 5 years; and the NT’s Ochre Card lasts 2 years. Providers must record the number and expiry in the staff record (r 147) and notify the regulator within 24 hours of a change in a worker’s status.

The check in each state, who issues it and how long it lasts, then what the National Quality Framework adds for childcare providers.

The check in each state and territory

State or territory	Check	Issued by	Validity and notes
NSW	Working with Children Check	Office of the Children’s Guardian	5 years; free for volunteers
Victoria	Working with Children Check (employee or volunteer)	Working with Children Check Victoria, via Service Victoria	5 years; volunteer checks free and only for unpaid work
Queensland	Blue card (registered teachers hold an exemption card)	Blue Card Services	3 years; “No Card, No Start”
Western Australia	Working with Children Check	Department of Communities, Working with Children Screening Unit	3 years; valid only in WA
South Australia	Working with Children Check	Department of Human Services Screening Unit	5 years; free for volunteers
Tasmania	Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (child-related activity)	Department of Justice (Consumer, Building and Occupational Services)	5 years
ACT	Working with Vulnerable People registration	Access Canberra	5 years; free for volunteers
Northern Territory	Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card)	SAFE NT	2 years

All the checks are continuously monitored, so a card can be suspended or cancelled before it expires; verify status online when someone starts and before the expiry date, not just once. A check generally applies only in the state that issued it, apart from limited visitor exemptions, so staff moving interstate need a new one.

What the National Quality Framework requires

Before starting: since 27 February 2026, everyone working in a service must hold a valid check before they start. ACECQA noted this changed practice in WA, the ACT and the NT. See the 2026 reforms.
Staff record: record the identifying number and expiry date of each staff member’s check (regulation 147), and of volunteers and students who are required or permitted to hold one (regulation 149). In Tasmania, record the WWVP registration (regulation 344).
Changes in status: staff must tell the provider of any change to their check status, and the provider must notify the regulator within 24 hours of becoming aware (regulation 176B, per ACECQA’s notification table). See notification timeframes.
Worker Register: check numbers are recorded in the National Early Childhood Worker Register, updated within 14 days of a change.
Providers and PMCs: when assessing fitness and propriety, the regulator considers whether the person holds a current check (regulation 16). See PMCs.

Good practice for providers

Verify every check online through the issuing agency’s employer portal, and link your organisation where the scheme allows, so you are told about changes.
Keep an expiry tracker and start renewals early: many schemes let holders renew a few months before expiry.
Do not roster anyone whose check has lapsed, including relief, agency and volunteer staff.
Build the check into the staff induction checklist and the staffing policy.

Frequently asked questions

Do childcare workers need a working with children check before starting?

Yes. Since 27 February 2026, everyone working in an education and care service must hold a valid working with children check (or WWVP registration in Tasmania and the ACT) before they start.

How long is a working with children check valid?

5 years in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT; 3 years for a Queensland blue card and a WA check; 2 years for an NT Ochre Card.

Can I use my working with children check in another state?

Generally no. Each state and territory issues its own check, with only limited exemptions for short visits, so a worker moving interstate usually needs the local check.

What must a childcare provider record about working with children checks?

The identifying number and expiry date of each staff member's check in the staff record (regulation 147), and the same for volunteers and students who need one (regulation 149).

What if a staff member's check is cancelled?

They must not work in child-related roles. The provider must notify the regulator within 24 hours of becoming aware of the change in status, and update the Worker Register.

Ask the question in your own words

WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.

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This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.