Governance Changes Frequently Asked Questions

Parks Victoria is aligning its volunteer working with children check requirements with the Worker Screening Act 2020. This change provides clearer guidance on who is legally required to hold a Working with Children Check (WWCC). This update ensures child safety remains a priority for volunteers who work closely with children, while also removing unnecessary administrative barriers for future volunteers that do not require the check.

No. Child safety remains a core priority for Parks Victoria.

This approach strengthens shared responsibility for child safety by:

• Focusing WWCCs on roles where they are required by law or risk
• Increasing awareness of child safety responsibilities
• Maintaining oversight of higher‑risk volunteer activities
• Volunteers whose roles involve regular or direct contact with children will still be required to hold a WWCC.

WWCCs are one part of a broader child safety framework. Child safety is managed through multiple, complementary measures aligned with Parks Victoria’s legal obligations and Child Safety Policy, including:

• Legislative alignment with the Worker Screening Act.
• Training and guidance to support safe volunteering.
• Continued oversight of higher‑risk programs and activities.
• Working with Children Checks (WWCC) will only be required where the law applies. Parks Victoria no longer requires third parties to submit a WWCC. Instead, we ask that groups/bodies declare their adherence to the Worker Screening Act 2020 when submitting your activities. This aligns with State legislation and helps focus safeguards where they’re most needed.

A WWCC is still required for:

• Anyone required to hold one under the Worker Screening Act 2020
• Volunteers involved in specified higher‑risk Parks Victoria programs
• Roles where direct and ongoing contact with children is a normal part of the duties

Yes. ParkConnect remains available to support WWCC compliance tracking for groups and volunteers who choose to use it.

VIT cards do not need to be uploaded to ParkConnect unless your group requests it. Holding a valid VIT registration is considered an equivalent check under the legislation.

The Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic) is a Victorian law that helps keep children and vulnerable people safe. It does this by:

• Setting rules for background checks (like Working with Children Checks)
• Ensure appropriate screening mechanisms are in place
• Clarifying responsibilities for both individuals and volunteer organisations

The Act applies to anyone who:

• Is paid or unpaid (a volunteer), and
• Does certain kinds of work involving children or people with disability.

Anyone who organises or runs the activity must:

• Make sure required checks are in place
• Not allow someone to volunteer in a role that needs a check if they don’t have one
• Take action if a clearance is suspended or cancelled

Regardless of Parks Victoria's position, groups have a legal obligation to understand the Worker Screening Act 2020 and their responsibilities towards Child Safety Standards. If the group wishes for children to attend activities, the activity leaders will require a WWCC.

The Worker Screening Act 2020 legally applies whether the organisation is:

• Incorporated or not
• Large, small, informal or community run

ParkConnect is still the required portal for all activity submissions for approvals. Group Leaders or administrators who submit activity will still need a ParkConnect account. All volunteers not submitting activity for approval are no longer mandated to hold an account. ParkConnect functionality is not changing.

These changes enable flexibility in how groups manage their members. Groups can continue to use ParkConnect or may choose to use other member systems or software such as excel.

There are a couple of ways accreditations can be managed. Your group may choose to ask that volunteer to create a profile and upload as per the current method in ParkConnect. Otherwise the group may wish to submit this as part of the approval process or have it sighted at induction.

Yes. These changes are targeted at lower risk activities. For higher risk activities where accreditation is required you will still need to submit these on ParkConnect to participate.

Yes. ParkConnect remains available to support WWCC compliance tracking for groups and volunteers who choose to use it.

Yes. Activities still need to be submitted for approval and sign in sheets are required for insurance and reporting purposes. Volunteer hours are reportable to the Minister annually.