Children’s services in the Western Plains have welcomed new laws set to strengthen Working with Children Checks (WWCC) in New South Wales.

General Manager for Bourke and District Children’s Services, Prue Ritchie, said the reforms were a positive step forward.

“Anything that improves safety of kids is a good thing in our communities,” she said.

“Anything that governments can do to strengthen the safety of children must be done.”

Ms Ritchie also called for greater nationalisation of the system to ensure consistent protections.

“There has to be some national approach around systems, in the way that incidents are reported and checks are verified nationally.”

Currently, WWCC requirements differ across states and territories. In South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, and the ACT, checks last for five years, compared with three years in Queensland and Western Australia, and only two years in the Northern Territory.

The New South Wales Government will introduce legislation into Parliament next week to strengthen its framework after several high-profile child abuse cases shocked the community.

Concerned parents, guardians, and child advocates across the country have called for stronger protections.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns, said new reforms regarding Working With Children Checks further help make children's safety a top priority.

At present, people with convictions can appeal a WWCC refusal through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

Under the reforms, only the Office of the Children’s Guardian will review these decisions.

This means people denied a WWCC will no longer be able to appeal through pathways like NCAT.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said reforms to standardise checks nationally “can’t happen soon enough.”

The NSW Government is also leading calls at National Cabinet for a searchable national register of WWCC holders to display a person’s history across jurisdictions.

A recent investigation by The Daily Telegraph revealed that in one single week, nearly 10 people—including a convicted sex offender—appealed their WWCC refusals at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

Over the last five years, more than two dozen individuals charged or convicted of serious offences successfully obtained WWCCs via appeal.

In one instance, a convicted sex offender worked with children for nearly two years without a valid WWCC—sparking public outrage and a push for reform.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the changes make children’s safety the top priority.

“Keeping children safe — whether they’re in a classroom, an early learning centre or the care of adults in any setting — must be a national priority,” he said.

“These reforms send a clear message that the safety of children comes first.”