Northern Territory

Requirements for working with children

In the Northern Territory, anyone who is 15 or older and works or volunteers in child-related work must have a valid Ochre Card. The definition of “child-related work” is very broad, covering any work that “may potentially involve contact with children” in connection with (relevantly) a club, association or movement that has “significant child membership or involvement”. Contact can be physical contact or any form of communication, including social media or email.

There are certain circumstances in which a volunteer may not require an Ochre Card. Specifically, a volunteer won’t need an Ochre Card if they:

are a parent of one (or more) of the children with whom they might have contact as part of their role; and
work only under the direct supervision of someone with an Ochre Card; and
the work does not involve an overnight stay.

Visitors from outside the NT can volunteer in the NT for up to 14 days without needing an Ochre Card.

Where an Ochre Card is required, both the organisation and the employee or volunteer are responsible for ensuring that a valid clearance is in place. Organisations should also ensure they are added as an interested party on their employees’ volunteers’ Ochre Cards.

Please note: Interstate Working with Children Checks are not accepted in the NT for any purpose.

More information about Ochre Cards is available on the NT Government website. You can apply for an Ochre Card online through SAFE NT.

Further information on Sport Integrity in the NT, including Child Safeguarding, is available here.

Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse

All adults in the Territory must make a report to the police if they believe, on reasonable grounds, that a child:

has suffered or is likely to suffer harm or exploitation; or
aged less than 14 years has been or is likely to be a victim of a sexual offence; or
has been or is likely to be a victim of an offence against section 128 of the Criminal Code (sexual intercourse or gross indecency involving child over 16 years under special care).

Additionally, anyone who engages another person in child-related work (including, for example, DSC Principals) is legally required to ensure that everyone they engage is aware of their reporting obligations.

More information about mandatory reporting, including how to make a report, is available on the NT Government website.

Contacts

In an emergency (i.e., you believe a child is in immediate danger), call 000 and ask for police. If it’s not an emergency, call police on 131 444 or contact your local police station.

You can also report suspected child abuse to:

the child protection reporting line on 1800 700 250 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.