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Suitability for Employment Checks

This topic is currently under review to ensure that it meets requirements under the recently amended Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic), from 19 October 2026.

In the meantime, please refer to Working with Children Checks and other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors for information about the changes in relation to volunteers and contractors.

For employees, the department’s central payroll system (eduPay) will automatically notify the Social Services Regulator (SSR) of required information to connect workers with the new Working With Children Connect portal. School must continue to follow requirements for recruitment and onboarding including in relation to Working with Children Checks for non-VIT registered staff.

You can also find information about implementation of the changes and the updated WWCC template procedures that schools must adopt at the School Policy Templates Portal to be compliant with the new requirements: Working with Children Clearance procedure and register (staff login required)(opens in a new window).

Overview

As part of the process for maintaining high standards of conduct and professionalism in the workplace, it is essential that principals or managers ensure that the Department's procedures for criminal record checks are implemented.

Verification of a satisfactory criminal record is achieved by ensuring the employment of new employees and engagement of volunteers proceeds in accordance with Department of Education and Training policy (for Victorian Public Servants), and legislative obligations pursuant to the Worker Screening Act 2020 (for school based non-teaching employees and volunteers), and to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 Part 2.6 Victorian Institute of Teaching (for principals and teachers).

The Department has developed procedures for the conduct of criminal records checks for all school based and non-school based employees, including arrangements that allow for the acceptance of the criminal records check conducted by the Victorian Institute of Teaching and Working with Children Checks to meet the Department's pre-employment suitability for employment requirements.

These procedures apply to:

  • persons employed under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006
  • persons employed under the Public Administration Act 2004
  • volunteers
  • casual employees including casual relief teachers
  • student teachers and interns
  • contractors
  • homestay families.

Refer to the Policy and Guidelines tab for the full Suitability for Employment Policy.

Relevant legislation

Suitability for Employment Check Overview

Updated

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