WA Sex Offenders Register Guide

What you need to know right now

In Western Australia there is no separate court order called 'going on the register'. If you are sentenced for a reportable offence listed in the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 (WA), you automatically become a 'reportable offender' and must report your personal details to WA Police. Reporting periods are 8 years for a single Class 2 offence, 15 years for a single Class 1 offence (or two Class 2 offences), and life for three or more qualifying offences. For juveniles the period is halved (or 7.5 years instead of life). Failing to report, or giving false information, is a crime carrying up to 5 years imprisonment. WA also runs a public Community Protection Website that discloses limited information about some offenders. If any of this affects you, call 1800 951 176 for free information and a referral to a WA lawyer.

The law in Western Australia

Western Australia's sex offenders register is governed by the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 (WA) and is administered by the WA Police Force. Unlike a fine or a prison term, registration is not something a judge separately 'sentences' you to in most cases. Instead, once you are found guilty of a reportable offence, the reporting obligations attach automatically by operation of the Act. Reportable offences are set out in two schedules: Schedule 1 (Class 1 offences, the most serious sexual offences against children) and Schedule 2 (Class 2 offences). In some cases a court can also make an offender reporting order for an offence not otherwise listed.

A reportable offender must report a wide range of personal details to the Commissioner of Police, including their name and any aliases, date of birth, address, vehicles, employment, tattoos and distinguishing marks, contact with children, and travel plans. Under section 24, the first (initial) report generally has to be made within 7 days of being sentenced or released from custody, or of an order being made. After that, section 28 requires the offender to report once each year, in the same calendar month as their first report, and to update police whenever their details change. Travel is tightly controlled: under section 30 a reportable offender must report intended travel out of Western Australia at least 7 days beforehand, naming every state, territory or country they intend to visit, and under section 32 must report their return within 7 days.

How long you stay on the register depends on what you were found guilty of. Section 46 sets the reporting periods: 8 years for a single Class 2 offence; 15 years for a single Class 1 offence or two Class 2 offences; and life (the remainder of the offender's life) where there are three or more qualifying offences or certain combinations across the classes. Section 47 reduces these periods for people dealt with as juveniles to half the adult period, or 7.5 years where an adult would otherwise report for life. Reporting obligations can be suspended while a person is in custody and resume on release.

WA Police manage registered offenders through ANCOR, the Australian National Child Offender Register, which feeds the National Child Offender System shared by police across Australia. In practice, day-to-day reporting in WA is done through the WA Police offender reporting portal at roportal.police.wa.gov.au, with in-person reporting also used. Because the system is national, moving interstate does not switch off your obligations; a corresponding registration in another state is recognised here.

The Act also allows for prohibition orders. Under Part 5 ('Protection orders'), the Commissioner of Police can apply to the court (section 87) for an order, and the court (section 90) can prohibit a person from doing certain things, such as being near schools, having contact with children, or engaging in particular conduct, where that is necessary to protect children. Breaching a prohibition order is a separate criminal offence.

What makes Western Australia genuinely different is the public Community Protection Website. Most Australian states keep the register entirely confidential. WA does not. Through the Western Australian Government's Community Protection Website, members of the public can, within limits, find out information about certain dangerous and high-risk sex offenders, and parents and guardians can inquire about a specific person who has regular unsupervised contact with their child. This public-facing scheme sits alongside the confidential register and is explained in its own section below.

The law at a glance

Governing Act: Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 (WA)
Administered by: WA Police Force, via ANCOR and the National Child Offender System
Reportable offences: Schedule 1 (Class 1) and Schedule 2 (Class 2)
Initial report (s 24): generally within 7 days of sentence, release or order
Annual reporting (s 28): once a year, plus updates when details change
Travel (s 30 / s 32): report leaving WA at least 7 days before; report return within 7 days
Reporting periods (s 46): 8 years (single Class 2), 15 years (single Class 1 or two Class 2), or life (three or more)
Juveniles (s 47): half the period, or 7.5 years instead of life
Failing to report or false information (s 63 / s 64): up to 5 years imprisonment
Public disclosure: the WA Community Protection Website (three tiers)

WA is one of the only states with a PUBLIC offender website

Most states keep the sex offenders register completely secret. Western Australia is the exception. The Community Protection Website runs three tiers. Tier 1 publishes photographs and details of reportable offenders who have stopped reporting or whose whereabouts are unknown to police, and anyone can view it. Tier 2 lets you apply to see photographs of dangerous and high-risk offenders living in or near your suburb. Tier 3 is a disclosure scheme that lets a parent or guardian apply to ask police about a specific person who has regular unsupervised contact with their child. Offenders under 18 are never published. If your details are on, or might go on, this site, that is a significant consequence worth getting advice on. Call 1800 951 176.

What this means in practice

Two separate questions usually arise: how long you must report, and what happens if you do not. Here is how the WA scheme plays out in practice.

8-year reporting period

Applies under section 46 where a person has only ever been found guilty of a single Class 2 offence. You report your details to WA Police every year for 8 years.

15-year reporting period

Applies for a single Class 1 offence, or two Class 2 offences. This is the most common outcome for a serious single offence against a child.

Lifetime reporting

Applies where there are three or more qualifying offences, or certain combinations across the classes. The obligation continues for the rest of the offender's life.

Halved period for juveniles

Under section 47, a person dealt with as a juvenile reports for half the adult period, or 7.5 years in place of a life obligation.

Failing to report (s 63)

Failing without reasonable excuse to comply with reporting obligations is a crime: up to 5 years imprisonment, or on summary conviction a fine of $12,000 and 2 years imprisonment.

False or misleading information (s 64)

Knowingly giving false or misleading details to police is a separate crime: up to 5 years imprisonment, or on summary conviction a $12,000 fine and 2 years imprisonment.

What to do now — step by step

1

Do not guess at your obligations. Write down exactly what you were found guilty of and when, and what police told you about reporting. The detail of the offence determines whether you face 8 years, 15 years or life.

2

Meet the next deadline you know about. If you are within the initial 7-day window or your annual reporting month is coming up, report through the WA Police portal at roportal.police.wa.gov.au or as police have directed, even while you get advice.

3

If you have a possible 'reasonable excuse' for a missed report, gather the evidence now (medical records, proof of what police told you, anything showing why you could not comply). The court must consider these factors.

4

If you have had a Tier 2 or Tier 3 inquiry made about you, or your details appear on the Community Protection Website, do not contact the applicant. Get advice on your rights first.

5

Call 1800 951 176 for free legal information 24/7, and to be connected with a local WA criminal lawyer who deals with reporting and prohibition orders. The earlier you call, the more options you have.

Mistakes to avoid

⚠️

Assuming the clock keeps running while you are in custody. Reporting obligations are generally suspended during imprisonment and resume on release, so your reporting period can extend well beyond your sentence.

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Forgetting that almost any change must be reported quickly, not just at the annual report. A new address, a new car, a new job, a new tattoo, or contact with a child can all trigger a reporting duty within days.

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Travelling interstate or overseas without telling police first. You must report travel out of WA at least 7 days before you leave and your return within 7 days, even for a short holiday.

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Treating a 'reasonable excuse' as a safe bet. The court decides whether an excuse is reasonable, considering things like disability and how clearly your obligations were explained. Do not gamble on it. Call 1800 951 176 first.

Free & low-cost help in Western Australia

If you cannot afford a private lawyer, or you just want to understand your obligations before deciding what to do, these WA services can help. Legal Hotline is not affiliated with any of them.

Legal Aid Western Australia

Free legal information and, for eligible people, advice and representation in criminal matters, including serious sexual offences. Infoline on 1300 650 579.

Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (ALSWA)

Culturally appropriate legal help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across WA, including criminal and reporting-related matters.

WA Police Force - Offender Reporting

Official information on reporting obligations, the offender reporting portal, and the Community Protection Website.

Community Legal WA

Network of independent community legal centres offering free initial legal help; can refer you to a centre near you.

Frequently asked questions — Sex Offenders Register in Western Australia

Is the sex offenders register public in Western Australia?

Partly. The confidential register held by WA Police is not public. But WA also runs a public Community Protection Website. Tier 1 publishes photos and details of reportable offenders who have failed to report or whose whereabouts are unknown, and anyone can view it. Tier 2 and Tier 3 require an application and disclose limited information about high-risk offenders in your area or a specific person with unsupervised access to your child. For specific advice on what is being disclosed about you, call 1800 951 176.

How long will I be on the register in WA?

Under section 46 of the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 (WA), it is 8 years for a single Class 2 offence, 15 years for a single Class 1 offence or two Class 2 offences, and life for three or more qualifying offences. Juveniles report for half the period, or 7.5 years instead of life. Time in custody generally does not count, so the period can run well past your sentence.

Does the judge decide whether I go on the register?

Usually not. If you are found guilty of a reportable offence in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 of the Act, the reporting obligation attaches automatically. A court can separately make an offender reporting order in some cases. Because it is automatic, the real fight is often at the charge and plea stage, which is why early advice matters. Call 1800 951 176.

What exactly do I have to report to WA Police?

A broad set of personal details: your name and any aliases, date of birth, where you live, your vehicles, your employment, distinguishing marks and tattoos, any contact you have with children, internet and contact details, and your travel plans. You make an initial report, then report once a year, and you must update police promptly whenever any of these change.

What happens if I miss a report or get a detail wrong?

Failing without reasonable excuse to comply with your reporting obligations is a crime under section 63, carrying up to 5 years imprisonment (or on summary conviction a $12,000 fine and 2 years imprisonment). Knowingly giving false or misleading information is a separate crime under section 64 with the same maximum penalties. If you have missed a report, do not wait. Call 1800 951 176 today.

Do I have to tell police before I travel?

Yes. Under section 30 you must report intended travel out of Western Australia at least 7 days before you leave, listing every state, territory or country you plan to visit. Under section 32 you must report your return within 7 days of re-entering WA. This applies even to short trips, and failing to do it can be charged as a failure to comply.

If I move to or from another state, do my obligations stop?

No. WA Police manage the register through ANCOR and the national system shared by all Australian police. A registration in another state is recognised in WA as a corresponding registration, and your WA obligations are recognised elsewhere. Moving does not reset or cancel your reporting period; you must update police about the move.

What is a prohibition order, and can one be made against me?

Under Part 5 of the Act, the Commissioner of Police can apply for a prohibition order (section 87) and the court can make one (section 90). It can stop you doing certain things, such as being near schools or having contact with children, to protect children. Breaching it is a separate criminal offence. If police have applied for one, get advice immediately on 1800 951 176.

Can I ever be taken off the register or have my reporting period reduced?

Reporting periods are fixed by the class and number of offences under section 46, so for most people there is no general 'early removal' once an obligation attaches. Limited mechanisms and suspensions exist in specific circumstances, and the way charges are resolved at the outset has the biggest effect on the outcome. A WA criminal lawyer can tell you what, if anything, is available in your situation. Call 1800 951 176.

I am worried about someone with access to my child. Can I find out if they are an offender?

WA's Community Protection Website includes a Tier 3 disclosure scheme that lets a parent or guardian apply to ask police about a specific person who has regular unsupervised contact with their child. There is also a Tier 2 local search for dangerous and high-risk offenders in your area. You apply through the Western Australian Government's Community Protection Website. For help understanding your options, call 1800 951 176.

Sources & further reading

Last reviewed: 2026-06-19. Laws change — confirm current details with the linked official sources or call 1800 951 176.

Talk to a WA criminal lawyer who knows the reporting scheme

Reportable offences and the sex offenders register sit at the most serious end of the criminal law, and the consequences - years of reporting, a public listing, prohibition orders, fresh charges for missed reports - follow people for a very long time. The detail of the charge decides whether you face 8 years, 15 years or life of reporting, so what happens early in the case matters enormously. Legal Hotline can give you free information now and, if you want, connect you with a local Western Australian criminal lawyer who handles these matters every week. Call 1800 951 176 or ask us to book a lawyer for you.

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The Sex Offenders Register in Western Australia