Child predators caught using fake Working with Children Checks at sports clubs
Child predators are using fake Working with Working with Children Checks at sports clubs and other industries in a bid to work alongside vulnerable kids.
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Child predators are using fake Working with Working with Children Checks (WWCC) at sports clubs and other industries in a bid to work alongside vulnerable kids.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that sporting clubs have sounded the alarm over fake WWCC being used on multiple occasions by those registering as coaches and volunteers.
The chief executive for the peak national body of tutors has also raised serious concerns, saying fraudulent WWCCs were being used by those tutoring children in primary and secondary studies.
The co-founder of a Western Sydney recreational sports team, which has thousands of members, said there had been instances in recent months where either “fraudulent WWCCs” had been submitted or those barred had tried to work as coaches.
“We’ve had recent cases where fake WWCCs have been submitted to the club including the wrong ID numbers being given and other issues,” the co-founder said.
“Upon further investigation it came to our attention that two people had been barred from working with children.
“This is why I always go to extreme lengths to always check WWCCs and validate them – child safety is very important at our club.”
A soccer coach from Sydney’s west said he was also aware of fake WWCCs being used by parents.
“We had an incident where a dad quickly showed us a photo of a WWCC on their phone claiming it was on the Service NSW app,” he said.
“When we asked for the screenshot and details, the parent became extremely defensive and it turned out that their WWCC had been expired for two years.”
Australian Tutoring Association chief executive Mohan Dhall said: “I have heard of instances where this has happened where a fake WWCC is given to a parent or listed in a tutoring advertisement.”
“I would like a system where I am being updated daily by the OCG about any complaints or notifications about our members, this ensures that even those with complaints are barred while an investigation is underway into someone’s conduct.”
An OCG spokesman said: “It is not enough just to sight a person’s WWCC or email notification. Sports clubs and other organisations must use our online verification system to ensure that the number is valid and the person’s details are accurate – which is how fraudulent WWCC credentials are identified.”
Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington said: “These examples show the NSW Working with Children Check system has done its job, it’s stopped people from using fake or fraudulent checks to work with children.”
“Child safety is everyone’s business, and verifying WWCCs through the Office of the Children’s Guardian is a legal requirement for all organisations working with kids,” she said.
Meanwhile, it can also be revealed that NSW Premier Chris Minns will introduce a bill on August 5 preventing WWCC appeals at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). It comes after a series of exclusive reports by the The Telegraph, which exposed significant loopholes where more than two dozen people charged, convicted or alleged to have been involved in serious crimes including child sexual offences had obtained a WWCC through successful appeals.
“It will come into effect when the parliament passes legislation,” Mr Minns said.
“We’ll introduce that on day one. But I’ve always been reluctant on nominating the date for legislation to pass, because we don’t control our house.”
The Premier said: “We don’t have the numbers in the upper or the lower house. We can obviously introduce a bill and hope that it passes, and hope that the cross bench and the coalition see common sense.
“Of late, they haven’t, so I’ll introduce the bill on the first day of parliament when it goes back but as to when (the legislation) is up and operational, that’s up to our colleagues.”
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