Vic woman faces 'child stealing' charges

A woman has been charged over the abduction of two children in Victoria after allegedly using forged documents to get a job as their au pair.

The woman, 31, was arrested in Pall Mall, Bendigo, on Friday with the children aged four years and 10 months.

She's been identified as serial fraudster Samantha Azzopardi.

Azzopardi had been expected to face Bendigo Magistrates Court on Monday on two charges of child stealing and one of using a false name, but did not appear.

She remains in police custody and is expected to face court on Tuesday morning.

"It's alleged the woman forged documents to gain employment as an au pair," Victoria Police said in a statement.

Bendigo Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation detectives have also charged her with handling stolen goods after she was allegedly found with a passport and driver's licence in July.

They had been stolen from a Brighton East woman last year.

The children were returned to their parents unharmed.