Introduction: Safety, Compliance and Peace of Mind

When you run or manage an early childhood setting in Melbourne you are legally and ethically responsible for the safety of children in your care. That extends beyond educators and volunteers to include anyone who enters child-related environments — including contracted cleaning staff. Engaging cleaners who hold a current Working With Children Check ensures compliance with Victorian screening laws, reduces risk and gives families and regulators confidence that your facility maintains high child-safety standards.

What is the Working With Children Check (WWCC)?

The Working With Children Check, commonly referred to as the WWCC, is a statutory screening process that assesses whether an individual is suitable to perform child-related work. In Victoria the scheme is governed by the Worker Screening Act 2020 and recent amendments in 2025 strengthened the framework and reporting obligations. A WWCC is different from a generic police check — it is specifically focussed on protecting children and includes information sharing about exclusions and suspensions.

Who Needs a WWCC in a Childcare Setting?

In practical terms, any worker who performs duties in a place where children are present may be considered to be doing child-related work. That includes:

1. Permanent and casual childcare staff;
2. Relief staff and contractors working regularly on site;
3. Maintenance workers who access playrooms or child-occupied areas;
4. Cleaning staff who enter rooms, sanitise toys, change nappies areas or clean toilets and food-preparation zones.

Consequently, cleaners with WWCC are required for many roles in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. It is an offence under Victorian law to engage a person in child-related work without a valid WWCC.

Recent Regulatory Changes and What They Mean (2024–2025)

Victoria strengthened the WWCC scheme in 2025 with amendments to the Worker Screening Act that:

1. Improve information sharing about interim exclusions and interstate recognitions;
2. Require employers and service providers to verify checks and act if a worker’s status changes;
3. Increase transparency around cancellations and extend prosecution windows for false declarations.

These changes mean that childcare operators and hirers must be more proactive in verifying WWCC status and responding to notifications. Tools such as the Service Victoria bulk checker make ongoing verification practical for larger services.

Why Hire Cleaners with a Current WWCC?

Hiring cleaners who already hold a valid Working With Children Check delivers multiple benefits:

1. Legal compliance: Fulfils statutory screening obligations and reduces the risk of regulatory penalties.
2. Child safety: Ensures people who access sensitive areas have been assessed for suitability.
3. Family confidence: Helps reassure parents that your service manages all personnel in the best interests of children.
4. Operational continuity: Workers with an active WWCC can begin work immediately without waiting for screening outcomes.

What to Check When Hiring Cleaners for Childcare

When you evaluate a cleaning provider or individual cleaner for early learning sites, confirm the following items before engagement:

1. Valid WWCC: Ask to see the WWCC number and verify via Service Victoria or the provider’s bulk-check process.
2. Proof of identity: Match the WWCC to the cleaner’s government ID to avoid misrepresentation.
3. Insurance and professional indemnity: Public liability insurance is essential for commercial cleaners working in childcare.
4. Infection control training: Confirm completion of recent infection control or cleaning-specific training relevant to childcare environments.
5. Cleaning scope and procedures: Ensure the provider uses child-safe cleaning products and has documented procedures for toys, sleep areas, nappy change benches and food-prep surfaces.
6. OHS and incident reporting: Contractors should integrate with your OHS processes and incident reporting channels.

Best Practices — Operational Checklist for Managers

Adopt the following operational measures to keep screening and hygiene practices robust:

1. Maintain a central register of WWCC numbers and expiry dates for all staff and contractors.
2. Perform periodic bulk verification checks rather than relying solely on sighting documents.
3. Include WWCC requirements in service contracts and procurement documents.
4. Require evidence of targeted infection-control training at induction and annually thereafter.
5. Document cleaning schedules, including daily touchpoint sanitisation and weekly deep cleans.
6. Ensure cleaners are briefed on child-safe interactions, restricting access to supervised areas unless authorised.

Cleaning Standards and Infection Control for Childcare (2024–2025 Guidance)

While cleaning standards for childcare are influenced by national quality frameworks, public health guidance and state-level regulation, the key principles remain:

• Focus on high-touch surfaces (door handles, tabletops, toys, handrails).
• Use products that are effective against pathogens yet safe for use around children — avoid harsh residues on toys and surfaces children contact.
• Implement routine toy-cleaning protocols: segregation of mouthed toys, regular washing and labelling of cleaning dates.
• Maintain separate cleaning equipment for toileting areas and food/prep areas to avoid cross-contamination.

Recent provider materials and industry practice from 2024–2025 show stronger emphasis on documented infection-control training for cleaning staff and the use of evidence-based products and concentrations. Many reputable cleaning businesses servicing childcare in Melbourne also provide tailored cleaning schedules that align with public health advice following the pandemic-era focus on respiratory and gastroenteric pathogens.

What Certifications and Documentation to Request

Beyond the WWCC, request the following documentation from cleaning suppliers:

1. Current public liability insurance certificate;
2. Evidence of staff training in infection control and manual handling;
3. Copies of safety data sheets (SDS) for cleaning products used onsite;
4. Proof of police checks where provided (note: police checks do not substitute for a WWCC);
5. Contractual clauses for confidentiality and privacy when staff are on site.

How to Structure a Cleaning Contract for a Childcare Centre

A well-crafted cleaning contract should include:

1. Explicit requirement that all cleaners who undertake child-related work hold and maintain a valid Working With Children Check;
2. Obligation for the contractor to notify the service immediately of changes to any worker’s WWCC status;
3. Specification of cleaning routines (daily, weekly, fortnightly, deep cleans) with measurable deliverables;
4. List of permitted and prohibited cleaning products and guidance on dilution rates;
5. Indemnities and insurance limits appropriate to the risk profile of childcare facilities;
6. Right-to-audit clause enabling verification of personnel files and training records.

Choosing a Provider in Melbourne — What to Look For

When evaluating providers in Melbourne consider these practical indicators of quality:

1. Clear statement that staff are WWCC-cleared and police-checked;
2. Documented childcare experience and references from local centres;
3. Use of child-safe, eco-labelled products with SDS available;
4. Formal training programs for cleaners specifically focussed on childcare settings;
5. Responsive communication, a central contact for emergencies and demonstrated ability to scale services for events or outbreaks.

Example: How a Specialist Provider Supports Childcare Centres

Specialist childcare cleaning providers typically include:

• Induction and centre-specific orientation for each cleaner;
• Touchpoint sanitisation checklists completed daily;
• Seasonal deep-clean plans and outbreak-response protocols;
• Regular supervisor site visits and client feedback loops.

These features help centres remain compliant with WWCC requirements and provide consistent infection-control outcomes.

Where to Find Reliable Childcare Cleaners in Melbourne

Look for commercial cleaning companies who advertise childcare experience, can produce WWCC evidence and who work to childcare-specific cleaning schedules. Two mid-content resources you may find useful are linked below for direct reference and further reading:

Read more about dedicated childcare cleaning services offered by Melbourne-based specialists who list WWCC-cleared staff and childcare-specific protocols.

For broader industry insights into commercial cleaning practices and trends, consult the professional blog at Stratus Clean Blog.

Practical Steps to Implement Today

Follow this simple, actionable plan to ensure your centre engages suitably screened cleaning staff:

1. Audit all current contractors and staff: record WWCC numbers and expiry dates.
2. Update procurement templates to require WWCC evidence and immediate notification of status changes.
3. Schedule a site induction for all cleaners covering child-safe practices, emergency procedures and infection-control expectations.
4. Establish a cleaning log and incident reporting channel that links contractors to your centre’s OHS system.
5. Review product SDS and remove any cleaning agents not suitable for use around children.

Common Questions and Answers

Do cleaners need a WWCC if they only clean at night when children are not present?

Yes. If the cleaning work is child-related — meaning it occurs in a place where children attend or the cleaner can come into contact with children — a WWCC is usually required. The timing of work does not automatically exempt the worker.

Is a police check sufficient?

No. A police check is not a substitute for a Working With Children Check. Police checks report criminal history; WWCC specifically assesses suitability for child-related work and contains exclusion lists and ongoing monitoring relevant to child safety.

How often should I verify WWCC details?

At minimum verify at engagement and annually thereafter. Use bulk verification tools where available and verify immediately if you suspect any change to a worker’s status.

Conclusion — Prioritise Child Safety with WWCC-Cleared Cleaners

Engaging cleaners who hold a current Working With Children Check is essential for legal compliance, child safety and the reputation of your childcare service in Melbourne. Beyond meeting statutory obligations, WWCC-cleared cleaners who are trained in infection control and child-safe practices contribute directly to a healthier, calmer and more secure environment for children, educators and families.

Use this guide and the practical checklist above to audit current arrangements, update procurement documentation and build long-term partnerships with reputable cleaning providers who understand the unique requirements of early childhood settings.