Clearance for service

Who needs a clearance?

The Professional Standards Uniform Regulations prescribe at Schedule 1 that lay people who hold any of the following roles, offices or positions, are required to hold a Clearance for Service which is a certificate granted by Kooyoora (Office of Professional Standards):

1 A. Those who hold a role, office or position that constitutes “ministry to children” within the meaning of the Safe Ministry to Children Canon 2017, currently as follows:

Ministry to children means work of a kind where a person:  

   (a) is required to hold a working with children check, or a working with vulnerable people check by reason that the person has contact with a child as part of engaging in a regulated activity; or

   (b) exercises a pastoral ministry which has direct, regular and not incidental contact with children; or  

   (c) provides services to children that are ancillary to the exercise of a pastoral ministry within General Synod – Safe Ministry to Children Canon 2017 Adopting Ordinance 2017 paragraph (b) which involve:  

          (i) contact with children during an overnight activity (such as camps and similar activities); or  

          (ii) close, personal contact with children (such as changing clothes, washing and toileting); or  

   (d) supervises the ministry of a person within any one or more of paragraphs (a) to (c); or  

   (e) performs a professional standards role; or  

   (f) performs a safe ministry role. 

1 B. Those who hold a role, office or position that requires them to have a WWC Clearance under the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic).

Regardless of whether a role, office or position is within the meaning of 1 A. and 1 B. above, any of following roles, offices or positions:

• Child Safety Officer, Family Safety Champion
• Leader or coordinator of, or instructor, teacher, or other position providing leadership, oversight or direction in —
• • children’s or youth group;
  • camp where children are present;
  • crèche;
  • Sunday School or other educational program for children or young people;
  • small groups where children are present and not accompanied by a parent;
  • choir, music, dance or acting group that includes children;
• bus driver for children;
• candidate for selection conference for Holy Orders;
• theological exiting student intending to seek ordination;
• theological student doing a youth or children’s practicum;
• Warden of Altar Servers or coordinator of the altar serving team where the team includes children. 

Church authorities may also require other people to obtain a Clearance for Service (see section 60(3) of the Professional Standards Uniform Act).