Working with Children Check

IMPORTANT: 
From 19 October 2026 all the students applying for, renewing and changing from a volunteer employee clearance must complete a Mandatory Working with Children Child Safety Training introduced by the Social Services Regulator. More information can be found here.

Services Victoria Delay: 
Services Victoria is currently experiencing delays due to high application volumes. Accessing or updating WWCC organisation details may take 5–10 business days.
If issues persist beyond this timeframe, please contact Services Victoria directly.

What is it?

A screening process required for working with children

What do I need?

A valid WWCC with updated organisational details

How long will it take?

Up to 12 weeks

You are legally required to obtain a Victorian Working with Children Check (WWCC) and ensure it remains valid for the entire duration of your studies. Depending on your individual circumstances and the number of identification points you require, this process could take anywhere between three to twelve weeks, or possibly even longer to complete.

Students are encouraged to bring either a hard copy or digital copy of their Working with Children Check (WWCC) card on their first day of placement, as some placement providers may request to sight the card on site.

Requirements

If you do not already have a WWCC card, you will need to apply for WWCC clearance.

If you already have a volunteer or employee WWCC card then you can use it for this check.

You should log onto your Services Victoria account or use the Update Details page and add the MDHS Student Hub mailing address to your card's Organisation details:

Organisation Name: MDHS Student Hub
Address: L2 161 Barry St Carlton Victoria 3053
Phone: 03 8344 5807
Email:  mdhs-placements@unimelb.edu.au
This email is for organisational use only and is not intended for student enquiries. For any enquiry  Contact MDHS Student Hub

If you’re adding the MDHS Student Hub address on the Services Victoria app or webpage, do not use commas. Simply enter the text using spaces, and the system will do the rest.

Entering these details will satisfy your legal obligations and replaces the need for you to list every placement provider individually (unless you are specifically instructed otherwise by one of your placement hosts).

Further instructions on how to update your organisation details in Service Victoria can be located here.

Evidence

To clear the check, you need to:

  1. Link MDHS as an organisation in their Services Victoria Account.
  1. Enter your WWCC card number (NOT the Service Victoria transaction number) into the "Reference" field in Sonia and submit the check.

After you have entered your WWCC card number in Sonia, the MDHS Compliance Team will verify your clearance status directly through Service Victoria.

Once your clearance has been verified, your WWCC status will be updated in Sonia.

Please allow up to seven business days from the date you update your WWCC card number in Sonia for your status to be reviewed and updated.

If your WWCC status has not been updated after seven business days, please contact the MDHS Compliance Team for assistance.

Interstate Checks

Interstate placement providers may also require you to apply for an equivalent clearance from that state or territory.

For more informatioin please contact your School directly.

State Name of Check Site Link Form Link
ACT Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Access Canberraact.gov.au
NSW Working with Children Check Service NSWwwccheck.org.nsw
NT Working with Children Clearance/Ochre Card nt.gov.auforms.nt.gov.au
QLD Blue Card Check/Working with Children Check qld.gov.aubluecard.qld.gov.au
SA DCSI Screening/Working with Children Check sa.gov.audcsiscreening.sa.gov.au
Tasmania Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP)/Working with Children Registration tas.gov.aujustice.tas.gov.au
WA Working with Children Check wa.gov.auwa.gov.au

More details

  • If you are unable to provide the required documents to verify your identity online, you will need to wait until you are in the country to verify your identity in person. This can be done at an Australia Post outlet. More details can be found on the Victorian Government website.

  • If you hold valid registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), you are exempt from requiring a separate Victorian Working with Children Check (WWCC).

    What you need to do:

    1. Upload Proof in SONIA
      Upload a clear copy of your valid VIT card to SONIA.
    2. Complete the Teacher Notification Form Include this information on your form.
    • Organisation Name: The University of Melbourne
    • Organisation - Contact: MDHS Health Hub
    • Email mdhs-student-hub@unimelb.edu.au

    Notify MDHS Student Hub via the enquiry form here

    Verification Process: The Student Hub will verify your VIT registration.

  • If you have an Interstate WWCC and will be on placement in Victoria:

    • You are exempt from obtaining a Victorian WWCC if your placement is 30 days or less in a calendar year.

    What to do:

    1. Upload Your Interstate WWCC in SONIA
      Include your WWCC number and expiry date.
    2. Contact the Compliance Team
      Use the Pre-Placement Compliance enquiry form to confirm in writing that your Victorian placement is for 30 days or less in the year.
    3. SONIA Status Update
      Your WWCC check will be cleared in SONIA but set to expire 30 days later

    Note: If your placement in Victoria exceeds 30 days in a year, you must apply for a Victorian WWCC.

    Submit an enquiry form here

  • There are not many situations that you could be exempt from obtaining a WWCC for placement. If you feel this is the case, you should contact the MDHS Student Hub to confirm.

  • If you change from a volunteer check to an employee check (or vice versa), you are obligated to notify the MDHS Student Hub of this change so we can update your records. You will have to contact us so we can unlock your check to enable you to upload this to Sonia.

  • If you receive an interim WWC Exclusion or WWC Exclusion notice, you MUST contact the MDHS Student Hub immediately. Exclusions can affect placement attendance as per Victorian Government rules and regulations.

    Students who receive interim WWC exclusions may be able to continue in child-related work (e.g. placements) while awaiting final outcomes on their interim WWC exclusions. However, this is subject to placement provider approval.

    Students who receive WWC Exclusions CANNOT engage in child-related work as of the date stated in the notice. Your school will contact you to review your options.

Ready to submit your documents? Go to Sonia.

Still have questions? Contact the MDHS Student Hub.

Further information