My name is Sophie Sparks teacher and founder of Australian inclusive charity YOU CAN SIT WITH ME www.youcansitwithme.org

I’m calling for a National Working With Children Check (WWCC)

ONE NUMBER, ONE SYSTEM, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Why? 

Because every child, in every corner of Australia, deserves to be safe. 

The Attorney General’s recent announcement on national child safety reforms do not go far enough to provide the robust, consistent protection that children across Australia urgently need.

Under the proposed scheme, states and territories will continue to operate under their own legislation, resulting in inconsistencies that allow individuals to slip through the cracks. These discrepancies create dangerous loopholes that place children at risk and must be urgently addressed.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made a clear recommendation 10 years ago that Australia must establish a fully nationalised WWCC. This would ensure consistent laws, real-time information sharing between states and territories, and ultimately stronger, unified safeguards for children across the country.

The statistics are deeply troubling. One in three girls and one in five boys in Australia will experience child sexual abuse. We simply cannot afford to accept a system that leaves gaps in protection based on geography.

We must do better. 

Given the urgency and importance of this issue, I urge policymakers, educational institutions, and community organizations to support this crucial change. Please sign this petition to demand a safer environment for all children in Australia.

Let's ensure together that the protection of our children is a top priority.

Thank you for your support.