This article was last verified in May 2026. Child safety obligations vary by state and are subject to change. Check the current position with your state regulator and your denomination's safe ministry body before you act on what you read here.
Running kids church at a small Australian church is often one of those roles that lands in someone's lap without much warning. A parent volunteers once, does a reasonable job, and suddenly they are the kids church coordinator. This article covers what needs to be in place from a compliance perspective and where to find free curriculum to get started. It does not cover safe ministry training programs, baby dedication, or a detailed comparison of paid curriculum options.
Who needs a Working With Children Check
Before anyone runs kids church, whether paid or volunteer, they need a Working With Children Check. This applies regardless of denomination, church size, or how long the person has been at the church. If an adult is regularly in the room with children in a ministry context, the check is required.
The check is administered by each state and territory, which means the name, the process, and the application form differ depending on where your church is located. Queensland calls it a Blue Card. The Northern Territory calls it an Ochre Card. Tasmania's equivalent is a Registration to Work with Vulnerable People. In other states it is simply the Working With Children Check. The underlying purpose is the same everywhere: a criminal history and professional conduct assessment to confirm that the person is suitable to work with children.
In most states and territories, the volunteer application is free. Paid employees pay a fee, but volunteers do not.
Search "[your state] Working With Children Check" to find your state's official application page and confirm the current process.
One practical note for small churches: the obligation covers anyone who is regularly with children in a ministry context, including the parent who helps most Sundays. If in doubt, apply. The application process is straightforward and free.
Child Safe Standards: what churches are required to do
A Working With Children Check screens individuals. Child Safe Standards apply to the organisation as a whole.
A number of Australian states and territories have child safety legislation requiring organisations that work with children, including churches, to implement formal Child Safe Standards. These standards cover things like child safety policies, complaint processes, training for staff and volunteers, and risk assessments for child-related activities. They are broader than individual screening and require the organisation to take active steps to create a child-safe culture.
What applies to your church depends on your state. The National Office for Child Safety has information on the national picture. Your denomination's safe ministry body is the most reliable starting point for understanding your specific obligations, most denominations have resources tailored to their structure and your state.
If your church does not have a formal safe ministry contact or policy, this is worth raising with your pastor or church board.
Where to start with curriculum
For a volunteer who has just taken on kids church, finding curriculum can feel like the most pressing problem. It does not have to cost anything to begin.
A good free starting point is Ministry-To-Children.com, a US-based website with more than 700 free printable lesson plans covering the Old and New Testaments. Everything downloads as a PDF, with no screen, projector, or account required. The lessons are written for first-time children's ministry teachers and are actively updated. If you need something ready for this Sunday, start here.
For a curriculum written specifically for an Australian context, GodSpace is the strongest option. Produced by Burst Christian Resources, it is used across Baptist, Anglican, Uniting, and interdenominational settings nationally. It is designed for children with little or no church background, which reflects the reality in many small Australian congregations. A digital teacher's subscription costs AU$77 per year and covers children aged 4 to 12 in a single manual, with a new edition released each year.
A third Australian option is CEP Kids@Church (cepstore.com.au), published by Christian Education Publications. It works on a unit-by-unit model, around AU$20 to $30 for a 10-lesson digital unit, with no annual subscription and primarily printable materials. It suits churches that want to try one unit before committing to more.
If your church has a screen and basic audio, Life.Church's Open Network (open.life.church) offers a free video-based library that many larger Australian churches use. It is not the right fit for a hall and a whiteboard, but worth knowing about if your setup grows.
The most useful two actions from here: confirm every adult regularly working with children in your church has a current Working With Children Check for your state, and contact your denomination's safe ministry body to understand what Child Safe Standards apply to your church.