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Apply for or renew a WWVP registration

The Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) scheme aims to reduce the risk of harm or neglect to vulnerable people.

If you work or volunteer in a regulated activity or service where you have contact with vulnerable people on a regular basis, you need a WWVP registration.

Access Canberra decides whether to register you based on the level of risk you may pose, and whether it’s in the best interests of vulnerable people.

All individuals who applied from 1 July 2019, paid a $135 application fee and were only issued a 3-year registration have had an automatic extension of 2 years applied to their registration expiry date. Letters confirming the new expiry date have been sent to affected registration holders.

How to apply

You can apply for a WWVP:

Applications that are incomplete or missing information won't be assessed until all documents are provided.

Apply online

If you apply online, the application has 2 parts.

1. Provide your personal details and select your documents

You'll need to complete the WWVP online form. This part is online and will take about 20 minutes to complete.

You’ll need to provide your:

  • personal details (for example, your full name, gender and home address)
  • criminal history. You must disclose all charges or convictions in relation to relevant offences
  • consent to a risk assessment. A risk assessment involves a thorough assessment of:
    • your criminal history (if applicable) including conviction and non-conviction information
    • your WWVP registration history (if applicable) and any other relevant information.

You’ll then select 4 identity documents. These are the documents you will bring with you to the Access Canberra Service Centre:

  • one form of commencement proof of identity (for example, your full Australian Birth Certificate)
  • one form of primary proof of identity (for example, your driver licence)
  • two forms of secondary proof of identity (for example, your Medicare card or credit card).

One of these documents must include a photo of you.

View a full list of acceptable proof of identity documents for the WWVP.

If you can’t meet the minimum proof of identity, you may be eligible for an exception.

Read the Working with Vulnerable People available proof of identity exceptions (PDF 191KB).

To make an enquiry contact the WWVP Background Screening Unit on 13 22 81, or by email at WWVP@act.gov.au.

Paying the fee

If you’re seeking WWVP registration for paid work purposes, a fee of $146 applies. WWVP registration for volunteering purposes is free.

You can pay this at time of lodging your form online or pay it at the Access Canberra Service Centre.

Access Canberra only accepts payment by VISA or MasterCard.

Complete the WWVP online form

2. Visit an Access Canberra Service Centre

Within 30 days of submitting the online form, visit an Access Canberra Service Centre.

Bring with you:

  • the 4 documents you selected in the online form. These can be originals or true certified copies.
  • a VISA or MasterCard to pay the fee if:
    • you are seeking the WWVP registration for the purposes of paid work, and
    • you haven’t already paid online.

Access Canberra will:

  • do a final identity check
  • take your photo. This will appear on your WWVP registration card.

Apply in person

You can apply in person by visiting an Access Canberra Service Centre and requesting a paper version of the application form.

Bring with you:

  • Four acceptable proof of identity documents. These can be originals or true certified copies.
    • one form of commencement proof of identity (for example, your full Australian Birth Certificate)
    • one form of primary proof of identity (for example, your driver licence)
    • two forms of secondary proof of identity (for example, your Medicare card or credit card).

One of these documents must include a photo of you.

View a full list of acceptable proof of identity documents for the WWVP.

If you can’t meet the minimum proof of identity, you may be eligible for an exception.

Read the Working With Vulnerable People available proof of identity exceptions (PDF 191KB).

To make an enquiry contact the WWVP Background Screening Unit on 13 22 81, or by email at WWVP@act.gov.au.

Pay the fee

If you’re seeking WWVP registration for paid work purposes, a fee of $146 applies.

WWVP registration for volunteering purposes is free.

Access Canberra only accepts payment by VISA or MasterCard.

Apply by post

If you can’t apply online or in person, you can apply by post. These applications can take longer to progress.

Call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to request the WWVP Application form. Access Canberra will mail the form to you.

Post your application to: Background Screening Unit, Access Canberra, GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601

What to include:

Your postal application should include:

  • a completed and signed application form
  • an Australian Passport Photo Card or 2 recent identical 'passport standard' photos. Passport standard photos must have an authorised person under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth) endorse the back of at least one photo. The endorsement must read 'This is a true photo of (your full name)'.
  • true certified copies of 4 acceptable proof of identity documents:
    • one form of commencement proof of identity (for example, your full Australian Birth Certificate)
    • one form of primary proof of identity (for example, your driver licence)
    • two forms of secondary proof of identity (for example, your Medicare card or credit card).

View a full list of acceptable proof of identity documents for the WWVP.

If you can’t meet the minimum proof of identity, you may be eligible for an exception.

Read the Working With Vulnerable People available proof of identity exceptions (PDF 191KB).

To make an enquiry contact the WWVP Background Screening Unit on 13 22 81, or by email at WWVP@act.gov.au.

Pay the fee

If you’re seeking WWVP registration for paid work purposes, a fee of $146 applies. Access Canberra will contact you once your application is received to take payment over the phone.

Access Canberra only accepts payment by VISA or MasterCard.

WWVP registration for volunteering purposes is free.

Background and criminal history assessment

Once you submit your application, Access Canberra checks your background and criminal history.

Ensuring the welfare of vulnerable people is the main consideration in the assessment process.

Access Canberra will conduct a risk assessment in accordance with the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Risk Assessment Guidelines 2021 (No 1).

This will include a thorough assessment of:

  • your criminal history (if applicable) including conviction and non-conviction information
  • your WWVP registration history (if applicable) and any other relevant information.

Access Canberra may request more information from you to help with this assessment.

We can only make assessments on the information available. Whether to provide the information is your choice, but if you don’t it may affect your registration outcome.

Access Canberra may also contact and seek advice from:

  • any person or entity who might have relevant information about your suitability
  • other regulatory authorities
  • independent advisors. These include people with qualifications and expertise in relevant fields, including but not limited to:
    • forensic or clinical psychology
    • domestic violence
    • drugs and alcohol
    • mental illness.
  • law enforcement agencies across the country.

The risk assessment does not determine your guilt or innocence of an offence.

It is an assessment of a range of information so that both:

  • risk factors: behaviours or circumstances which indicate a risk
  • mitigating factors: behaviours or circumstances which reduce the level of identified risk

are considered when deciding on a registration outcome.

Check your application status

You can check where your application is up to by:

The average processing time for a WWVP registration is currently 4 weeks. This timeframe is a guide only. Processing times depend on individual circumstances.

Working while the decision is made

If you’ve applied and Access Canberra hasn’t made a decision yet, you may be able to engage in a regulated activity if certain conditions apply.

If you are a kinship carer and:

  • you have not withdrawn your application
  • you have not received a negative notice

you can engage in the regulated activity unsupervised until the outcome is decided.

If you are not a kinship carer, you can engage in the regulated activity if you have nominated your employer in your application, and all the following conditions are met:

  • Your employer agrees you can.
  • Someone supervises you at all times.
  • You have not received an interim bar or negative notice.

Types of WWVP registration

If you receive a negative notice or your positive registration has restrictions, Access Canberra will tell your nominated employer.

We won’t disclose the reasons for the decision, unless you give consent for us to do so.

If you receive a positive registration, you’ll be mailed a registration card. It will contain:

  • a unique registration number
  • the WWVP registration type
  • any restrictions or conditions that apply to your registration
  • your name
  • the registration expiry date.

Registration is valid for 5 years.

Positive registration types

The possible positive outcomes for your assessment are:

Positive unrestricted registration

This registration is unrestricted and includes clearance for working with children (WWC).

It may also include clearance to engage in National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) activities.

This means you can engage in all regulated activities, including those involving children. If you applied to engage in NDIS activities and were issued NDIS clearance, you can do that too.

Read more about WWVP and the NDIS.

Positive with restrictions registration

This registration will have restrictions for at least one of the following:

  • working with children
  • The types of regulated activities or services
  • Role that you can undertake in a regulated activity

This means you may only engage in regulated activities within the restrictions of your registration. You may engage in regulated activities that involve children if your registration includes clearance to do so.

Read more about WWVP and the NDIS.

Working outside the ACT

A positive WWVP registration with clearance to work or volunteer in NDIS activities allows you to engage in an NDIS activity in any state or territory.

The rest of your registration only applies to regulated activities in the ACT.

Read more about WWVP and the NDIS.

Negative notices

If you’ve received a negative notice, it means you will not receive a WWVP registration.

It means Access Canberra refused registration because you pose an unacceptable risk to a vulnerable person while engaging in a regulated activity.

This means you cannot work or volunteer in any regulated activity.

Request reconsideration

If you’re unhappy with Access Canberra’s proposed decision and a final decision hasn’t been made, you can request reconsideration

If you have been refused a registration, or your registration was cancelled or restricted, you can reapply 5 years from the date the decision was made.

Negative notices and Cancellations issued because of a Class A disqualifying offence can’t be reviewed unless you can prove you’ve been mistaken for someone else.

Read more about disqualifying offences.

Request a formal appeal

The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) handles reviews of some decisions made under the WWVP scheme. There are time limits to appeal and fees may apply.

Visit the ACAT website for information about formal appeals.

How to maintain your registration

Registration is for 5 years.

Reporting any charges or offences

If, after your registration, you are charged or convicted for any new relevant offences, you must tell Access Canberra.

Call 13 22 81 or email WWVP@act.gov.au.

You are committing an offence if you don’t disclose any new charge, conviction or finding of guilt against you.

Changing your details

If your name or gender has changed, you'll need to update these details with us before you renew your WWVP registration.

You'll need to visit an Access Canberra Service Centre and bring:

  • 4 forms of identification
  • one additional document showing the link between your new and previous details. For example, a marriage certificate or change of name certificate issued by a state or territory
  • a completed change of name form (if you've changed your name).

It’s important to keep your address up to date. Update your address in person when you renew or use our online form.

Change of Address online form

How to renew your registration

If you're seeking WWVP registration renewal for paid work purposes, a fee of $146 applies. WWVP registration renewal for volunteering purposes is free.

Access Canberra will email or post you a renewal reminder about 12 weeks before your registration expires.

To renew your registration you'll need to complete the Renew a WWVP registration form. If your name or gender has changed, make sure you've updated your details with us first.

You'll need:

  • the unique letter ID number at the top of your renewal letter
  • your WWVP registration number
  • a VISA or MasterCard to pay the fee if you’re renewing for paid work purposes.

If you’ve lost your letter and don’t have your unique letter ID, call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or email WWVP@act.gov.au.

Renewing before expiry

You must submit your renewal application before you registration expires. This will make sure your registration is still valid while the decision about your renewal is made.

Renewing after expiry

You can still renew your registration if it’s expired, but there may be limits to what you can do while the application is being assessed.

You may only continue to work or volunteer in a regulated activity if:

  • the employer nominated in your application agrees you can, and
  • you’re supervised by a WWVP registration holder while you work or volunteer.

Complete the Renew a WWVP registration form

Get a replacement card

If you're seeking a WWVP replacement card, a fee of $22 applies.

If your card is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed you can request a new one.

Use the Replace a WWVP registration card form.

Provide your details, verify your identity and pay a fee. You’ll receive your new card in the mail.