Working with Children Checks Are Holding Back the Care Workforce: Pinnacle People Restates Its Position
We’ve said it before, and we’re saying it again—the current system is broken.
It’s outdated. It’s inconsistent. It’s expensive. And in light of the current horrific circumstances dominating national headlines, we’re making our position absolutely clear:
The system isn’t doing enough to protect the people it’s designed to safeguard—and it’s actively hurting our ability to build and sustain the essential workforce our country needs.
Australia is facing a critical shortage of talent in care-based industries—aged care, education, disability support, and more. At Pinnacle People, we’ve been on the frontlines of this workforce crisis for years, and we’ve been sounding the alarm just as long.
One issue continues to hold us back: the Working with Children Check system.
The System Is Failing Everyone
Let’s be clear: Working with Children and Vulnerable People Checks are essential. They are a non-negotiable part of building safe, responsible workplaces. But the current system is flawed—and it’s creating more harm than good for both employers and workers.
Here’s the reality:
The cost of these checks can be up to $146 depending on the state or territory.
Each state has its own system, meaning checks are not portable or recognised nationally.
Employers often absorb the cost, only for candidates to leave or use the clearance elsewhere.
If employers don’t cover the cost, they risk losing the candidate altogether.
This is a no-win situation. It’s putting unnecessary financial and operational strain on businesses like ours, and keeping willing, capable people out of critical frontline roles.
Latest Headlines Reinforce the Need for Urgent Reform
Recent coverage—including remarks from federal ministers—has confirmed what we in the industry already know: the system isn’t working.
Delays in reform. Fragmented state-by-state processes. A lack of real-time updates. These are serious concerns, not just for safety, but for the sustainability of Australia’s care workforce.
As a staffing partner deeply embedded in this sector, Pinnacle People is calling time.
| State/Territory | Check Name | Valid for | Cost |
| NSW | Working with Children Check | 5 years | $80.00 |
| QLD | Blue Card | 3 years | $101.30 |
| VIC | Working with Children Check | 5 years | $128.20 |
| SA | DCSI Screening | 5 years | $114.00 |
| ACT | WWVP Registration | 5 years | $146.00 |
| TAS | RWVP Registration | 5 years | $124.60 |
| WA | Working with Children Check | 3 years | $87.00 |
| NT | Ochre Card | 2 years | $81.00 |
Multiply that by 10, 20, or 50 hires a year—and then factor in the ones who don’t stay. For some businesses, it’s enough to put the brakes on servicing the sectors altogether.
Our Position Is Clear
In light of current scrutiny and long-standing challenges, Pinnacle People is restating its position:
🔹 WWCC should be free.
No one should be locked out of care-based work because they can’t afford a check.
🔹 WWCC should be national.
One check. One system. Recognised across Australia.
🔹 WWCC should be annual.
For everyone’s protection, checks should be updated every 12 months.
We are ready to support this workforce. We are ready to grow it. But we need a system that matches the urgency and importance of the roles we’re trying to fill.
Let’s Break the Barrier—Not the Workforce
Pinnacle People support Australia’s essential industries by recruiting, training, and deploying passionate, job-ready people every day.
But we can’t keep doing this while the compliance system fails, blocking candidates and employers, and failing to protect those it’s meant to safeguard.
If government wants a strong, safe, and sustainable care workforce, it must dismantle these outdated, ineffective compliance barriers.
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