There are legal requirements for working as a nanny in Australia. You must ensure that you are fully compliant with the law and have the relevant certifications before you care for children. At all times, it is your responsibility to ensure that all of the relevant checks and documentation are in place between you and your prospective family.
We have put together this guide to help you on your journey. We must stress though that you should seek advice from legal professionals to ensure you are fully compliant. If you want to learn more about what’s required before working with children, the Australian Institute of Family Studies has a detailed overview here.
Working with Children Check (WWCC)
A Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a legal requirement for any person involved in caring for children. To repeat, you must have a valid check or have applied for a check before working with children. While you can apply for jobs without a check, parents are unlikely to engage nannies that do not have a valid check.
Checks are administered by each State and Territory, who have different standards you must be aware of. You can apply for a check here:
NSW | QLD | VIC | WA | ACT | NT
National Police Check
Most parents will want you to have done a National Police Check. These checks are easy to do, are completed online and take a few days to process. A National Police Certificate is a document that lists an individual’s disclosable court outcomes and pending charges. National Police Checks can only be done with your permission. Police checks are valid at the time of application, so it’s up to the parent to determine if a new check is needed.
First Aid Certification
It is a requirement for approved providers of family day care services to ensure each educator and assistant
- holds a current approved first aid qualification; and
- has undertaken current approved anaphylaxis management training; and
- has undertaken current approved emergency asthma management training.
We not only recommend that nannies have these certifications, but also that the parents themselves perform this training.
We have partnered with Australia Wide First Aid who provide first aid courses in VIC, QLD, NSW and WA. They are offering a discount for members of the We Need A Nanny family.
Visas
If you’re visiting Australia from overseas, you must ensure that your visa allows you to work as a nanny. You can verify your visa conditions online with VEVO, the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system.
Driver’s Licence
While it is not a legal requirement to have a driver’s licence to work as a nanny, it is certainly viewed favourably by parents if you are able to drive (especially if you have your own car).
Insurance
If you’re working as a contractor, you should cover yourself for any accidents with insurance. If you are hired by a parent as a employee, the parent must have workers compensation insurance. Make sure you check with the parent about the arrangements and responsibilities before you enter into any agreements.
