Working with Children Clearance - appeals

You can apply for a legal review of a refusal by the Northern Territory Screening Authority over a Working with Children Clearance.

Read about how to get legal advice before applying for a court review.

Decisions made by another state or territory

A relevant refusal, revocation or other adverse Working with Children screening decision made in another Australian state or territory may result in the refusal or revocation of a Northern Territory Working with Children Clearance.

If you are affected by an interstate decision, SAFE NT will provide information about the decision, however SAFE NT cannot overturn a decision made by another jurisdiction. To seek a review or appeal of the original decision, you must contact the relevant screening authority in the state or territory that made it.

How to review a decision made by the NT Screening Authority

You must contact the Local Court within 28 working days of receiving the screening authority letter that denies you a Working with Children Clearance.

Go to the Attorney-General's Department website for contact details.

The decision of the screening authority is binding until the review decision is made.

What is reviewed

The review will be conducted as a new hearing.

The judge will consider all the information you provided to the NT screening authority in your application, and any other information you provide.

Review outcomes

The Local Court may do any of the following:

• confirm the screening authority’s decision
• vary the decision
• set the decision aside
• set the decision aside and replace it with the court’s own decision
• make a decision about the costs of the review proceedings.