ST JAMES THE APOSTLE PARISH

How to Volunteer at Our Parish

Welcome to the community St James the Apostle Hoppers Crossing North.


Volunteers are the blood that brings life to our community - thank you for making this decision to become a volunteer.

Your contribution to and participation in the life of the Parish is very much appreciated and valued.


If you're still trying to make up your mind, we invite you to read this Testimony from the Are Family who made a decision to contribute their gifts towards our Parish community. (Please click HERE)


The Parish holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a fundamental responsibility. Complying with both Government and Archdiocese requirements around protecting the vulnerable and living out our commitment requires particular expectations of our clergy, employees and volunteers.


All Volunteers within the Archdiocese are required to:


Please note that some volunteer roles will require a Police Check. If you are unsure, please contact the Parish Office.



Working with Children Checks (WWCC)

  • You can apply for a WWCC here: Working with Children Check. If the WWCC is requested by an organization where you do voluntary work, tick ‘volunteer,’ this means you will not have to pay for the WWCC.
  • If you have used another name, including maiden surnames or aliases, these need to be listed in the section ‘have you been known by another name.’
  • List your residential address and any other address where you have lived in the past five years.
  • Under organization please write:


St James the Apostle Catholic Church

336 Derrimut Road,

Hoppers Crossing North VIC 3029

03 9401 6367


  • Under Occupational Work Code please select number: 64. Religious Organisations.
  • The next screen is meant for you to check your details one last time before you submit.
  • In the next screen you will need to tick the box at the bottom to indicate that you agree with what you have read.
  • Press print and take this sheet, together with a passport size photo (not older than 12 months) and 100 points of identification, to a post office. (The parish is happy to refund any expenses incurred for the photo.)
  • It is advised that you register your WWCC on the website. This will help you update your details when necessary.
  • If you already have a WWCC, you can add St James to your card here: Working with children check - Update details and follow the instructions for entering St James' details as listed above. This can be done also if you have an employee card.
  • If you are a teacher and have a current VIT, you can use this in place of a WWCC, but you still need to add St James to your VIT, which you can do so here: Service Victoria | Teacher notification

(NB you can only have one card at the same time. If you initially had a volunteer card but then needed an Employee card, the Volunteer card is cancelled. To confirm this please go to Service Victoria's Working with Children Check Status Checker, and check the status of your card/s.)



Criminal History Check (National Police Check)

If you belong to a parish group with a role that requires you to have a Criminal History Record Check (Police Record Check), you are required to do it every 3 years. 


You will need to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader to use and fill out the NPC form.


  • If you are asked to apply for a National Police Check, please go to: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/apply-national-police-check
    • Scroll down to "Apply for national police check via post" and
    • click on "Consent to Check and Release National Police Record". 
    • The file will open as a pdf on which you can enter your details online.


  • In section C, under ‘postal address,’ please type in 336 Derrimut Road, Hoppers Crossing North VIC 3029.

(NB We prefer if the police check comes to the parish office first and then we will forward it to you. It saves us having to chase it from you later.)

  • In section D, ‘Is this certificate being paid for by an organization,’ please put X in the box. In the following boxes please type in:

Name of representative: Fr Jude Pirotta

Title: Parish Priest

Organisation: St James the Apostle Catholic Church

Address: 336 Derrimut Road, Hoppers Crossing North VIC 3029

Tel: 03 9401 6367


  • In section E, tick option 2, "Others: Parish Volunteer".
  • Name of organization and representative, please fill in as per below:

Name of representative: Fr Jude Pirotta

Title: Parish Priest

Organisation: St James the Apostle Catholic Church

Address: 336 Derrimut Road, Hoppers Crossing North VIC 3029

Tel: 03 9401 6367

CVF number: 13/2423


  • When you are ready please print and bring it to the parish office together with 100 points of identification. They can be photocopied and certified at the parish office. The parish office will also pay for the police check. No photo is required for the police check.


The Safeguarding Essentials Online Training Module:

  • To complete the Online Training Module, you will need either your own WWCC number or a VIT number. Once you have this ready, you can log in and complete the step here: Login
  • Once you have successfully completed the online module, you will receive a certificate, which you will need to email to the parish office.

All parish group members within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne are required to complete Safeguarding Essentials Training. 

This is to be done every year for clergy or parish staff, and every three years for volunteers.  


Visit the Archdiocese FAQs page to find answers to common questions about the Safeguarding Essentials online training module.


Should you have any difficulties or require any assistance, please reach out to our friendly Parish Office staff


Email: hopperscrossingnorth@cam.org.au

Phone: 03 9401 6367