A Perth woman has been convicted after making false claims on a Working with Children Check application.
Ugyen Lhamo Wangchuk was prosecuted by the Department of Communities for providing false and misleading information on her application for a Working with Children Card.
A Department of Communities investigation found that Ms Wangchuk completed a Working with Children Card application form and signed it as the authorised person for Mr Cleen Pty Ltd.
A representative from Mr Cleen Pty Ltd subsequently notified the Department of Communities that they did not know Ms Wangchuk and that she was not employed by the company.
At the time of submitting her application, Ms Wangchuk was not actively engaged in child-related work.
Ms Wangchuk was found to have breached the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 by giving false and misleading information, and the Perth Magistrates Court last week found Ms Wangchuk, who failed to appear in court, guilty of the charge and imposed a penalty of $700 and $655.50 costs in her absence.
The Department of Communities’ Deputy Director General Catherine Stoddart said the case was a timely reminder that only individuals engaged in child-related work should be applying for a Working with Children Card.
“Any individual or employer who fabricates information on a Working with Children Check application is committing an offence,” Ms Stoddart said.
“The community has a right to expect their children to be safe with any person or organisation in child-related work.
“Any breaches of the legislation will be taken extremely seriously and prosecution action will be taken.”
Further information about Working with Children Checks and applicant and employer obligations is available on the Working with Children website www.workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au.
Media contact: Steve Worner 0418 918 299
