Questions people ask

No. You sign in with a link we email to you. Links last 14 days, and only the newest one works. You can ask for a fresh one any time on the volunteer sign-in page.

No. It's a web page that works on any phone, tablet or computer.

In NSW, apply through Service NSW – it's free for volunteers. In the ACT, apply for a Working with Vulnerable People registration through Access Canberra. The volunteer guide has the details.

Two people who know you well and have seen you around others – a small group leader, former ministry leader, employer or teacher. Not family members.

It's the Volunteer Application & Screening Questionnaire every volunteer completes – the same one that used to be on paper. It covers your details, why you'd like to serve, health and wellbeing, a set of yes/no screening questions, driving (if your role involves it), churches you've attended, two referees and a declaration. It's part of registering, takes about 10 minutes, and you'll be asked to complete it again every few years.

A "yes" doesn't automatically mean you can't serve. It opens a confidential conversation with the Senior Pastor (or a senior member of the Safe Church Team). You can give details on the form or tick a box to talk it through in person. Your answers are never shown to ministry leaders or other volunteers.

Yes. Enter your date of birth and you'll see the shorter under-18 version. You'll need a parent or guardian's details, and they sign at the end – so have them nearby, or hand them your phone for that part.

Enter your application number (it starts with APP). Your record will show "application in progress". When your clearance comes through, update it with your WWC number – an application number doesn't count as a clearance on its own.

In NSW, volunteers under 18 don't need one. If your church has this turned on, your record will show that it isn't needed yet, and you'll be reminded to apply as your 18th birthday gets close.

Usually phoned. Some churches also send referees a secure link to a short questionnaire. Either way, let your referees know you've nominated them.

Sometimes our team needs to look at something before you can be cleared. They'll be in touch – you don't need to do anything.

Yes. Each church keeps its own register, so use each church's link.

Yes. Download the template from Import & export, copy your data in, do a test run, then import. See Importing your spreadsheet.

No – on purpose. A person on your team verifies each check on the state register and records the result. The register then tracks the expiry date and reminds the volunteer.

Yes. Senior admins can edit the example Level 1–4 roles, add your own, and set renewal periods for training, police checks, the code of conduct and the screening questionnaire.

Yes, if your church turns it on in Settings. The referee gets a secure link that works once and expires after 21 days. An admin reviews every written reference before it counts, and any concern goes straight to a senior admin. Many churches still prefer a phone call – you choose.

Yes. Senior admins can add up to 10 extra credentials in Settings – first aid, driver's licence, food safety and so on – and choose which roles need them and how often they're renewed.

Expiring soon, waiting to be verified, references outstanding, missing items, lapsed, under-18s approaching 18, cleared by ministry and archived people. Each one opens on screen and downloads as a spreadsheet. See Reports.

Yes – it was designed to be simple enough for a small church with one part-time admin, and the reminders save the most time where there's only one person.

A senior admin archives them. Their roles end and reminders stop, but the record is kept, because child safety records may be needed many years later.

No. Ministry leaders see only whether people in their ministry are cleared – no personal details.

The volunteer, and their church's Safe Church Team. Ministry leaders see status only. Concern details are for senior church admins only. See who can see what.

Yes. Every time someone opens a record or a document, changes something or exports the register, it's logged with who and when. The log can't be edited.

No. People are archived rather than deleted. How long archived records are kept will follow legal advice.

Yes, and it can be required for every church admin.

After five wrong attempts, sign-in is locked for 15 minutes, and the error message never says whether it was the email or the password that was wrong. Every lock-out is recorded.

From a dedicated mailbox connected securely to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, so messages are signed and less likely to land in junk. Sign-in links are single-use and expire.