Working with children · New South Wales · information
NSW Working with Children Check photo
A NSW Working with Children Check starts with an online form from the Office of the Children's Guardian. You then visit a Service NSW centre to prove your identity and pay any fee. You do not upload or post a photo yourself, so there is nothing to prepare for this check. This page sets out the steps, and for the states that take an uploaded photo it points you to those tool pages.
- Photo
- Taken at the counter
- Bring a photo?
- No
Check the official source. The NSW process (online application, then an in-person identity check at a Service NSW centre) is long-standing; whether a photo is captured at that visit was not re-confirmed on 2026-10-29.
How it works
- Complete the online application on the Office of the Children's Guardian website and note your application number.
- Visit a Service NSW centre with your application number and identity documents.
- Pay the fee for paid workers (volunteer checks are free).
- Wait for the outcome; your employer verifies your clearance number online.
About the photo
- Identity is verified at Service NSW; you do not need a passport photo.
- Keep your clearance number; employers verify it online rather than inspecting a card photo.
Fees
Fees were not re-confirmed on 2026-10-29; volunteers have historically paid nothing. Check the current amount on the OCG website.
Current fees on the official site
Why this site has no tool for it
This site only makes photos for documents that accept a photo you supply. Here the photo is taken at the counter, so a file or print you bring is not used, and selling one would be misleading. For documents that do take your own photo, such as passports, many visas and some working with children checks, use the ID photo hub or the photo maker.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to supply a photo?
Not for this check: the photo is captured by the agency or taken from its existing record. Follow the agency's instructions rather than preparing a print.
Which states accept an uploaded WWC photo?
Victoria (online, JPEG, at least 406×521 px), the Northern Territory Ochre Card (JPG upload or printed photo) and Tasmanian RWVP applicants applying from interstate or overseas (certified passport-standard photo). Each has its own page on this site.
Is a check from one state valid in another?
Generally no: working with children checks are issued by each state and territory under its own law. The NDIS Worker Screening Check is the main nationally recognised exception, and it is a different check.
How long does the check take?
It varies by state and by applicant. Lodge early and check the agency's current processing times.
Sources
Rules on this page last verified against these sources on 29 October 2026. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.