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Background checking

NSW Sport and Recreation has been approved to carry out the relevant procedures of the Working With Children Check on behalf of other employers in the sport and recreation sector.

NSW Sport and Recreation has been designated an Approved Screening Agency by delegation from the Commission for Children and Young People and the Premier of NSW.

As an Approved Screening Agency we are responsible for undertaking requests for a Working with Children Check from all employers in the sport and recreation industry.

A Working with Children Check will be conducted on all prospective employees in order to determine their suitability to work with children. The Check will incorporate the following:

  • A national criminal record check which will identify any relevant criminal history
  • A check on all apprehended violence orders which have been made for the protection of a child
  • A check on any relevant completed disciplinary proceedings initiated by an employer concerning an employee's misconduct relating to children. This involves child abuse, sexual misconduct or acts of violence either directed at children or in the presence of children.

Working with Children Check forms

You can download all the forms you need to comply with the Working With Children Check procedures in your organisation. All forms are in Microsoft Word format so you can customise them with your own Logo. Please note the content of the form should not be altered in any way.

Proof of identity information

Before a Working With Children Background Check can be conducted on a preferred applicant, the applicant must provide documentation to support their identity as required by the 100 Point Check under the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988.

All preferred applicants for a position that is deemed to be child-related must provide certified identification from Category A and Category B to equal 100 points to enable a background check to be conducted:

Category A (70 points) – An item from this list is essential

One document from this list:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Birth Card issued by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
  • Citizenship Certificate
  • Current Australian passport
  • Expired Australian passport which has not been cancelled and was current within the preceding 2 years
  • Current passport from another country or diplomatic documents.

For a preferred applicant under 18 years, one document from the above list, or the following, is sufficient:

  • Identity of the applicant verified by an educational institution, either on a student card or a letter signed by the principal, deputy principal, head teacher, deputy head teacher or enrolment officer, confirming that the applicant currently attends the institution.
Category B
40 points

Name and photograph/signature of preferred applicant verified from one of the following (more than one document can be counted):

  • Current driver photo licence issued by an Australian state or territory
  • Identification card issued to a public employee
  • Identification card issued by the Australian or any state government as evidence of a person's entitlement to a financial benefit
  • Identification card issued to a student at a tertiary education institution.
35 points

Name and address of preferred applicant verified from any of the following (more than one document can be counted):

  • Document held by a cash dealer giving security over property
  • A mortgage or other instrument of security held by a financial body
  • Council rates notice
  • Document from current employer or previous employer within the last two years
  • Land Titles Office record
  • Document from the Credit Reference Association of Australia.
25 points

Name of preferred applicant verified from any of the following (more than one document can be counted):

  • Current credit card or account card from a bank, building society or credit union
  • Current telephone, water, gas or electricity bill
  • Foreign driver's licence
  • Medicare Card
  • Electoral roll compiled by the Australian Electoral Commission
  • Lease/rent agreement

What is a certified copy?

A photocopy of the original witnessed by a qualified witness. The original and photocopy must be presented to the witness who notarises the photocopy with "I certify that this is a true copy of the original which I have sighted". We must receive the photocopy with the original signature of the witness.

Qualified Witnesses

  • Justice of the Peace
  • Barrister/Solicitor
  • Commissioner for Affidavits
  • Notary Public
  • Officers at the NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages

Alternatively, the employing officer of the Department may sight the original document, take a copy and sign the copy certifying that it is a true copy.

Alternatively, the employer may sight the original document, take a copy and sign the copy certifying that it is a true copy. Identification is kept on file with the Working With Children Consent Form and Prohibited Employment Declaration. Employers must certify on the Working With Children Background Check Request Form that they have sighted and retained a copy of the identification for their records.

Guarantee of service standards

We are committed to ensuring the Working With Children Check is undertaken in a timely, effective and responsive manner. We will:

  • complete all processes associated with the Working With Children Check as quickly as possible
  • keep all information relating to the Working With Children Check in a secure manner and protect the privacy of individuals consistent with the legislation
  • provide advice and assistance to background checking clients in relation to the Working With Children Check
  • operate with integrity, discretion and regard for each of our backgroung checking clients, and
  • require our staff to operate within the standards set by our Code of Conduct. This Code provides an ethical framework to guide the decisions, actions and behaviour of our staff.

 

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