Aged Care – Screening requirements

Including Key Reforms Effective 1 November 2025 #

If you intend to work — paid or voluntary — in an aged care setting, you must complete screening clearances. These checks safeguard the safety and wellbeing of people accessing aged care.

This article outlines the current requirements, the screening types, what counts, and introduces the significant regulatory changes coming into effect from 1 November 2025.

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🧩 About Aged Care Screening Checks #

Screening in aged care assesses:

• a person’s criminal history, and
• where relevant, their work-misconduct history

This ensures you’re suitable for roles that involve older or vulnerable people in residential, in-home or community care settings.

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🪪 Types of Screening Used in Aged Care #

1. Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) #

Formerly known as a Nationally Police Check, or simply “police certificate.”
It shows your criminal history status across all Australian jurisdictions.

2. NDIS Worker Screening Check #

This check is required when you’re in a risk-assessed role (especially supporting people with disability), or in an aged care service that also supports NDIS participants.
It covers criminal history, reportable incidents, and relevant disciplinary proceedings.

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🎯 What’s Changing on 1 November 2025 #

As of 1 November 2025, under the new Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025, there are some important changes for aged care worker screening. (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission reference)

Key changes include:

• The definition of an ‘aged care worker’ and a ‘responsible person’ expands — meaning more roles will be captured under screening obligations.
• Screening requirements now apply to workers and responsible persons engaged by a registered provider, including associated providers and digital platform workers.
• For many roles, you’ll need either a police certificate less than 3 years old that does not include certain precluding offences, or a valid NDIS Worker Screening Clearance.
• Stronger record-keeping obligations: providers must keep proof of each worker’s certificate or clearance, and if applicable a statutory declaration for overseas residency if the person was a citizen or permanent resident in another country after turning 16.
• Transitional arrangements: Workers can continue with existing police checks until expiry, but providers must be ready for the new screening regime.
• Future reform: From mid-2026 or later, a unified national aged care worker screening check (aligned to NDIS screening) is being developed. For now, from November 2025, these are incremental changes.
• Refernces: (Health, Disability and Ageing+1)

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⚖️ Current vs New Requirements (at a glance) #

Before 1 Nov 2025	From 1 Nov 2025
Existing definitions of aged care worker and responsible person.	Expanded definitions under the new Act and Rules.
Many roles accepted a police certificate or NDIS check depending on provider.	Clear rule: each worker/responsible person must hold <strong>either</strong> a police certificate < 3 years old (with no excluded offences) or a valid NDIS Worker Screening Clearance.
Record-keeping obligations: provider must hold proof of screening.	Stronger record-keeping: must hold evidence, statutory declaration if required, and must act if a precluding offence occurs.
Screening regime separated for NDIS and aged care in many cases.	From 1 Nov 2025, move toward consistency and recognition between aged care and NDIS screening.
Future unified screening expected but no set start date.	Transitional arrangements in place, unified screening expected from mid-2026.

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💼 What This Means for You (Worker) #

• If you’re already working in aged care: Check your certificate or clearance is valid, up-to-date, and the provider has your details linked.
• If you’re seeking aged care work: Be aware your role may now fall under the updated definitions — talk to your provider about which check you need.
• If you’ve lived overseas after age 16 or are a permanent resident: You may need to provide a statutory declaration in addition to your screening certificate.
• These changes aim to make screening more consistent across aged care and disability sectors — meaning fewer separate checks when you move between sectors.

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🌍 What This Means for Providers #

• Review your workforce to ensure all workers and responsible persons meet the criteria by 1 November 2025.
• Make sure your record-keeping systems capture screening certificates/clearances, expiry dates, and statutory declarations where required.
• Communicate to your workforce about the upcoming definitions and screening obligations.
• Monitor the development of the unified screening check (beyond November 2025) to be ready for the next phase.

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🔗 Related Worker Checks Services #

• Nationally Coodinated Criminal History Check (ACIC-accredited) — for general screening in aged care.
• NDIS Worker Screening Check — recognised for aged care roles that support NDIS participants.
• Support Worker Plan — tailored compliance package including multiple checks for aged care workers.

Still Need Help? #

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