NSW Calls for WWCC Blitz Amid Sector Safety Concerns

The NSW Government is facing mounting pressure to overhaul compliance systems in early childhood education following disturbing allegations involving infants in care and financial misconduct by major providers.

Acting Children’s Guardian Rachel Ward has called for a statewide “blitz” on Working With Children Checks (WWCC), urging families and staff to routinely verify clearance status using the Service NSW app. “We need to normalise checking,” Ward stated during budget estimates, emphasizing that WWCC compliance must become a daily expectation, not a passive assumption.

Key Developments:

• WWCC Verification Push: Parents and educators are encouraged to actively confirm WWCC status via digital platforms.
• Federal Reform Agenda: A national overhaul of WWCC regulations and funding models is underway, targeting underperforming services.
• Parliamentary Inquiry: NSW is conducting a separate inquiry into sector accountability, with a focus on compliance failures and financial transparency.

The inquiry also exposed serious financial irregularities at Allambi Care, one of NSW’s largest out-of-home care providers. A redacted report tabled in parliament revealed $4.1 million in unaccounted funds allegedly used for property purchases by staff. Families Minister Kate Washington condemned the misuse, stating that funds intended for vulnerable children had been diverted.

Washington pledged to terminate the scheme and enforce stricter funding oversight. Allambi Care has denied wrongdoing, asserting that the expenditures supported vulnerable populations and included legitimate operational costs such as sensory pods and scanning services.

These revelations have reignited calls for stronger safeguards, transparent funding practices, and real-time WWCC verification across all early childhood services. As the sector braces for reform, the message from the government is clear: child safety must be proactive, not reactive.

Reference:
Call For Working With Children ‘Blitz’