Get your working with children card


Welcome to the "Getting Your Working with Children Card" guide, specifically designed for the dedicated members of Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY).

In our community, we often have the privilege of conducting various activities that involve children, such as assisting with scout events or engaging in educational programs. To ensure the safety and well-being of all children involved in these activities, it is essential that our members obtain a Working with Children Card.

This guide is intended to walk you through the process of applying for and obtaining this card, which serves as an important certification demonstrating that you are approved to work with children. Our primary goal is to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all participants. Let's work together to make our community more resilient, and secure a safer future for our children.

Please read the following sections carefully to understand the process and requirements. Let's get started.

  1. 1

    A working with children card is free

    Obtaining your Working with Children Card incurs no cost to you, as long as the work you engage in is of a voluntary nature. This is applicable to our activities with TRY and with other community groups in Yackandandah. This cost-free provision is facilitated by the Victorian Government in recognition and appreciation of the invaluable contributions made by volunteers to our community.

  2. 2

    The check process is entirely online

    So long as you have ready access to documents proving your identity and a reasonably modern smart phone with a camera and up to date browser (iPhone and Android both are acceptable).

    Documents required

    - passport or birth certificate
    - Medicare card
    - Driver's license

    There are other ways to verify your info but these are the common ones that most people will have access to.

    Have these documents handy as you begin.
  3. 3

    Completing the application process

    1. Visit the Working with Children Check Victoria website and create an account.

    service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-childre...
  4. 4

    Enter the information required to verify your identity

    The verify identity process is all completed on your phone. You'll get an SMS to your phone, and need to take photos of the photo page (entire page) of your passport amongst other tasks to prove your identity.

    You might need to try this a few times, the system seems a bit flaky and may complain that the verification process has ended before you have had a chance to submit everything. It took this author 3-4 times. Just be patient and you'll get faster at submitting the information correct with practice.
  5. 5

    Photo time 📸

    You'll be asked to submit a photo to check against the passport photo to prove that it is a human submitting this application.

    Do not be fooled! This photo will be used forever on your working with children card and it will be very difficult to ever change it even on renewal.

    Make sure you look happy in your photo (if that's the look you want). Take your cue from Tyra and smile with your eyes!
  6. 6

    Totally Renewable Yackandandah contact information

    If you include TRY contact information, Services Victoria will forward a confirmation of successful working with children check by phone or email.

    Organistion Name
    		Totally Renewable Yackandandah
    Address
    		PO Box 730
    Yackandandah
    Vic 3749
    Contact Phone Number


  7. 7

    Awaiting the outcome and receiving the card

    Approval can come within the hour in some cases.

    1. After the identity verification process, allow sufficient time for the working with children check to be processed.

    2. Check your email regularly for updates on the progress of your application.

    3. Once approved, you will receive a Working with Children Check card via mail, and a digital copy is available in the Services Victoria app on your smartphone.

    4. Keep your card safe and readily available while working with children.

  8. 8

    Troubleshooting: Having trouble adding the digital card to your phone?

    The Services Victoria App may not recognise the card until the following day. This this happens to you, and your working with children check is unable to be found, try again the following day, It is possible they have a batch process that runs overnight to update all of the cards and all attempts would fail before then anyway.