Important Child Safety Update: Changes to Working with Children Checks

Dear Equestrian Victoria Affiliates,

We would like to make you aware of important changes to the Victorian Government's Working with Children (WWC) Check scheme that come into effect from Monday 19 October 2026.

These reforms form part of Victoria's ongoing commitment to strengthening child safety and will affect all organisations that engage people in child-related roles, including Equestrian Victoria and our affiliated clubs.

Following the briefing provided to the sporting sector by the Social Services Regulator this week, we are now able to share the following information.

What is changing?

From 19 October, two key changes will be introduced:

1. WWC Connect

A new online service, WWC Connect, will allow organisations to notify the Social Services Regulator (SSR) of workers and volunteers they engage in child-related work. – including any official or volunteer at an event where children are competing or attending.

Organisations will be required to:

• Verify Working with Children Check status

• Link workers and volunteers to their organisation through WWC Connect

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of individuals engaged in child-related roles.

2. Mandatory Child Safety Training

A new online child safety training module will become a mandatory component of all new, renewed, and upgraded WWC Check applications.

The training covers topics including (but not limited to):

• Child safety responsibilities

• Respectful behaviour

• Understanding and recognising child abuse

• Responding to concerns and reporting obligations

What does this mean for Equestrian Victoria and Affiliates?

To support clubs and minimise administrative burden, Equestrian Victoria will undertake bulk uploads through WWC Connect on behalf of affiliated clubs using information stored within the Equestrian Australia database, JustGo.

We will conduct regular uploads and updates from the system to help meet reporting requirements ongoing. We will also be able to provide clubs with a bulk upload template. Affiliate clubs will be able to send us data which we can upload to the WWC Connect system on your behalf.

What action do clubs need to take?

From 19 October, clubs should ensure that any person aged 18 years or over who is undertaking child-related work/volunteering (paid or unpaid) has a valid WWC Check.

This may include individuals who are:

• Club committee members

• Event organising committee members

• Coaches, Officials or Team Managers

• Contractors engaged in child-related work

• Volunteers involved in child-related activities

Individuals should:

• Create or update their EA JustGo profile and link themselves to Equestrian Victoria (membership is not required).

• Upload their Working with Children Check under the 'Credentials' section of their EA profile.

• Ensure their WWCC details remain current.

• Provide a copy of their WWC to the club/affiliate they are working/volunteering with.

Affiliates should:

• Request a current WWC from their paid workforce within 7 days of an event/activity.

• Request a current WWC from volunteer workforce within 21 days of an event/activity.

• Provide Equestrian Victoria with workforce WWCC template for upload to the Connect portal.

Further information regarding the template and data required will be distributed once Equestrian Victoria have received it from the regulator.

Victorian Teachers are not required to apply for a WWCC and will instead upload their VIT registration details into the EA JustGo system or share with the affiliate.

When applying for or renewing a WWCC, members must nominate organisations they have involvement with - please add Equestrian Victoria.

A Graduated Approach

While the new requirements commence on 19 October, a graduated implementation period has been provided. We understand these changes represent an additional administrative burden for volunteer-run clubs and affiliates.

The Social Services Regulator has indicated that, during the transition period, the focus is on organisations making genuine efforts to understand and implement the new requirements rather than expecting immediate full compliance.

At this stage, we ask affiliates and members to focus on ensuring their membership details are accurate and up to date in the EA JustGo database while Equestrian Victoria works through the implementation process and investigates ways our systems can better support these new requirements.

Our collective aim is to continue strengthening child safety across our sport while keeping the administrative impact manageable for volunteers and affiliate clubs.

We will also continue to receive updates from the Social Services Regulator and VicSport and keep you informed.

Support Available

Our Health, Risk & Child Safety Officer, Michelle Debenham, will continue to provide further educational opportunities to clubs and members as we support the implementation of these changes across our sport.

Michelle, along with the full EV Office Team is available to support clubs and volunteers in understanding their responsibilities and implementing best-practice child safety measure. If you would like assistance, guidance, or child safety training, please do not hesitate to contact Michelle at [email protected] or the EV Office team at [email protected]

Useful resources & guides include:

• Applying for a WWC https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children

• Checking Your Status Working with children check status checker

• Find Your WWCC Card Number Find your Working with Children Check card number | Service Victoria

• Change from Volunteer to Employee Status Change from volunteer to employee online | Service Victoria

• EA How-To Guides (JustGo) EA How To Guides | Scribe

• WWC Connect General Information & FAQs: Working with Children (WWC) Connect | vic.gov.au

Thank you for your support as we work together to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all participants in our sport.

Kind regards,

Kathleen Kindler
Equestrian Victoria Sports Manager