- Cook Government introduces Working with Children (Screening) Amendment Bill 2025
- Bill will establish mutual recognition of negative notices as part of a nationally consistent child safeguarding strategy
- 'Banned in one, banned in all' approach means anyone denied a Working with Children Check in one jurisdiction will be unable to hold one anywhere else in the country
The Cook Government has introduced the Working with Children (Screening) Amendment Bill 2025 to establish stronger protections for Western Australian children.
The Bill will enable a 'banned in one, banned in all' approach to Working with Children Checks (WWCC) - meaning anyone denied a WWCC in another jurisdiction will be unable to hold one in WA.
The Bill seeks to amend the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004 which if passed, will ensure all WWCC negative notices are mutually recognised around the country.
The 'banned in one, banned in all' approach has been endorsed by all states and territories through the Standing Council of Attorneys-General, and is part of suite of priority reforms being implemented nationally to enhance safeguards and better protect children across all states and territories.
In addition to delivering mutual recognition of negative notices, the Bill also stands to further progress WA's implementation of the remaining recommendations through the Royal Commission WWCC Report (2015) while also enhancing national consistency in WWCC schemes.
The proposed Bill is also seeking to establish new offences for an employer or education provider who employs or procures child-related employment, where they are aware the person or student is the subject of an adverse interstate WWCC decision.
The penalties will be the same as the offence where the employer or education provider is aware the person or student has been issued with a negative notice or interim negative notice that is current.
As stated by Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"The Cook Government is progressing these reforms to protect Western Australian children, as part of our work to build safer communities.
"This approach means anyone found to present an unacceptable risk to children will be barred from undertaking child-related work in any state or territory in Australia.
"Banned in one, banned in all.
"The Amendment Bill will significantly strengthen the Working with Children Act and builds on the Cook Government's proven track record of putting the safety of WA children first."
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
"Mutual recognition of negative Working with Children Check notices will deliver stronger protections for children across Australia.
"Western Australia is fully committed to implementing these reforms which will provide stronger protections and will close loopholes that allow individuals to 'shop around' for clearances."
