When researching for information about police checks or applying for a police check online, you might find that the term ACIC (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) accredited body comes up frequently on the different websites of National Criminal History Check  providers. To ensure you have a good understanding of what a police check is and what the process entails, it’s important to be aware of what an accredited body is.

When applying for a Police Check, you should use an ACIC accredited provider to ensure the process is done properly. An accredited body will submit a police check on your behalf in order to perform a criminal record check. The results of this will appear on a police check certificate. Here is all you need to know about ACIC accredited bodies.

What Is An ACIC Accredited Body?

An ACIC accredited body is an organisation, business or company in Australia that has received acceptance and approval from ACIC to give access to the National Police Checking Service. Access to this service allows the accredited body to request a National Police Check on behalf of individuals who require one.

Accredited bodies are granted a level of authority and trust to use the National Police Checking Service Support System (NSS) and retrieve the applicant’s police history results.

The accredited body is entrusted with confidential information and is responsible for securing the safety of that information.

Who is ACIC?

ACIC stands for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is the national agency for criminal intelligence in Australia. ACIC works closely with Australian government and law enforcement agencies to fight crime by sharing information between police forces through its services.

According to the ACIC website, its motto is to create ‘An Australia hostile to criminal exploitation’.

What Does ACIC Do?

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reacts to crime on a national scale in Australia. Through the National Police Checking Service, criminal information can be shared across all states and territories in Australia through law enforcement agencies and police databases. This helps the nation to keep track of criminal activity, conduct Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History checks, and to tackle crime of the highest level. ACIC aims to keep the nation and the community safe.

What Does An Accredited Body Do?

An accredited body will serve as a provider of Australian Police Checks for individuals who require a check as part of employment screening, registering, licencing and legal purposes. It will submit applications on behalf of the applicant and deliver the results back to them, following national police clearance.

What Is The National Police Checking Service?

The National Police Checking Service (NPCS) is the system which holds the information of police history records. All accredited bodies have equal access to the service, and use it to search and match applicant’s to Persons of Interest.

What Is A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is also known as a National Police Clearance. It is delivered as a National Police Certificate which shows the results of a person’s criminal record check taken from the police information gathered in all states and territories. It is mainly used for identity verification purposes and most commonly for pre-employment screening with companies.

Who Can Become An Accredited Body?

There are currently over 180 ACIC accredited bodies in Australia. If successful, the ACIC website states that the following types of organisations can become an accredited body:

• Federal, state and local Australian government agencies
• Businesses in the private sector
• Not-for-profit organisations
• Screening services for child and vulnerable person-related employment

Who Do Accredited Bodies Work For?

Any accredited body will have the potential to submit police clearance requests for many people and for many purposes. When applying for accreditation, there are different categories available to choose from for who you want to submit police checks for. These are as follows:

• Members of the general public
• Other organisations
• Existing employees or potential new employees
• Individuals for licencing and registration reasons

What Is The Agreement?

Every organisation which becomes ACIC accredited must confirm that they have read and understood the conditions of the Agreement, a legally binding contract called the Agreement for controlled access by duly Accredited Bodies to Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks. The Agreement lasts for 5 years unless it is terminated early, for instance, if the organisation has not met its obligations.

The company must comply with several legalities including the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth), the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Australian Privacy Principles and Spent Conviction schemes. The Agreement must be read, understood and signed before access is granted to the organisation, allowing it to use the service.

Please note, your organisation will be assessed throughout the term of the contract to ensure all obligations are being met. Failure to do so may result in your organisation losing its accreditation and thereby losing access to the service.

Full details of the Agreement can be found on the website of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

What Is The Accreditation Process?

7 steps are listed as part of the accreditation process with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

1. The organisation must complete the online questionnaire provided by ACIC. This step will determine eligibility and allow you to progress to the next step if you are successful.
2. The organisation must then complete and submit the application form
3. Following receipt of the application form, ACIC will determine if you are a suitable organisation to register as an accredited body
4. You will receive in writing whether your application has been approved or denied
5. The agreement is signed and finalised
6. Training is supplied for using the service
7. In the final step, your organisation will be ready to begin submitting police checks and actively work as an accredited body

How Does An NPC Provider Get Certified?

An organisation which can provide a National Police Check will need to meet a number of requirements set out by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to become ACIC certified. The organisation must have provided the minimum volume of police checks, which is 500 police checks over 5 years, to be given the opportunity to become ACIC accredited. There are several other steps to be taken to meet the standards required, including being able to demonstrate the benefit that the organisation brings to public safety.

After meeting the initial criteria, the organisation must then follow the official process to become an accredited body.

What Legislation Applies?

All accredited bodies who have access to the National Police Checking Service are granted a level of trust. You and your organisation will be responsible for safely storing the personal information of individuals who have applied for a National Police Check. There are laws in place to ensure the protection of information gathered and held by the accredited body. The information gathered from a criminal record check is in compliance with relevant Australian state and territory legislation, as well as Commonwealth laws. Accredited bodies must also respect privacy laws as outlined in the Privacy Act 1988.

How Does An Accredited Body Demonstrate Compliance?

An accredited body can demonstrate its compliance by strictly following the rules and guidelines provided by ACIC. A program is in place to review the organisation throughout the length of the contract. This includes reviewing data quality, investigations into accusations of the company not complying, periodic reviews and ongoing assessments.

By monitoring the companies compliance to the Agreement, professional standards are kept and the correct laws are followed to ensure the protection of individuals using the NPC provider.

What Are The Expectations of An ACIC Accredited Body?

Once qualified as an accredited body with ACIC, the organisation enters into a legal contract. The organisation must administer certain protocols and increase security standards to be able to participate in the scheme and to access the National Police Checking Service.

Full compliance is expected throughout the contract and this will be assessed regularly. In some cases, access to the system will be terminated before the contract ends.

ACIC lays out 9 steps to reach full access to the service.

1. Collect police check application
2. Collect informed consent from the applicant
3. Verify the identity of the applicant
4. Lodge the application and monitor it
5. Receive check result
6. Provision of check result
7. Take care of any queries or disputes about check results
8. Retain information
9. Dispose of information

What Is Informed Consent?

Every Police Check (NPC) application requires consent from the individual applying for the check. Without the applicant’s consent, the check cannot be processed. It is the responsibility of the NPC provider to obtain consent, and the responsibility of the applicant to fully understand what they are consenting to.

Every applicant must read all information provided and understand how their personal and police information will be handled when applying for an online police check. They must then give consent to the NPC provider to submit the check on their behalf.

How Long Does It Take To Process A Police Check?

The National Police Checking Service is handled by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, accredited bodies and police agencies. The service will always aim to complete a National Police Check as soon as possible and have results turned over fast.

Roughly 70% are completed within 1 hour if no match is found and the applicant has No Disclosable Court Outcomes, while 30% are subject to further review and may take up to 15 business days to retrieve results.

The accredited body you use is not responsible for the time taken to process the application. Once they have submitted your check, the process time is out of their hands.

How Do I Know If A Provider Is ACIC Accredited?

All ACIC accredited bodies are listed on the ACIC website, including Worker Checks Pty Ltd. Organisations will state on their own websites whether they are ACIC accredited.

If you want to know more about the credentials of Worker Checks Pty Ltd, contact us.

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (formerly known as a  Australian National Police Check) or an Australian Federal Police (AFP) Check is requested for many purposes. It involves a criminal record check on an individual to disclose police information on any disclosable criminal history of an individual. The question is often asked – do Police Checks expire?

How Long Is A Police Check Valid For?

There is no standard period of time that a police check remains valid for. The check does not include an expiry date, and only includes the date that the report was issued.

A Criminal History Check is considered a ‘point in time’ check. The information contained in the document is only accurate up to the date and time of issue. A police check does not expire officially, but the information may become outdated as time goes on, or miss out new information contained on an individual’s police record, if an offence took place after the certificate was produced.

The purpose behind the police check is relevant to determine how valid the document is. Organisations who request the check must decide themselves if the date on a police check is acceptable. They must also determine a timeframe in which they require an updated Australian National Police Check. This is usually part of company policy and their own risk assessments as to what they will and won’t accept, and when it needs to be renewed.

What Does Point In Time Mean?

Any check – an Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check or an AFP Check or International Police Check is classed as a ‘point in time’ check. A point in time check means that the information is only in date as of that moment. If a person commits an offence the day after receiving their police check certificate, this latest offence will not be included in the information. For this reason, police checks should be renewed regularly depending on the reason they are being used.

What Does A Police Check Result Look Like?

The National Police Checking Service generates a report containing the individual’s check results. An example copy of the document can be found on the website of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Some reports may include branding from whichever accredited service provider the applicant used, but the police information and check results must remain the same as they are found on police databases.

The document will state the following information:

• The date that the check was issued
• An outline of the police check process
• Details of the applicant (name, birth date, birth place etc.)
• The outcome of the results, either NDCO (No Disclosable Court Outcomes) or DCO (Disclosable Court Outcomes) and the details of the offence

Is A Police Check Valid For Multiple Jobs?

An Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check cannot be used for multiple jobs. As every police check requires the reason for requesting the document, the results can differ. Police authorities need complete disclosure of the reason behind a police check, so that they are able to assess the individual correctly, and apply the correct legislation. The fact that the check is job specific or purpose specific, means it is not suitable for reusing for different jobs.

Different legislation and information release policies apply to different occupations. Usually for child-related work, all prior convictions and charges will be released in the police check results. Alternatively, a check request submitted for an office worker would not require the same disclosure of certain past offences.

It is important to note, that in the time that a person works for one particular company, they could have received a charge on their record since their last police check when moving to a new company. Companies should always request a fresh police check to ensure the applicant’s police history is up to date and any new offences are recorded and acknowledged appropriately.

Jobs Within The Same Company

In Australia, Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is part of the screening procedure for employees joining a company or organisation. On many occasions, an existing employee might seek to change roles within the company, whether for a promotion, a career change or to gain new skills.

In this case, the employee, although having already provided police clearance when they first joined the company, may need to obtain a new check. Despite the company remaining the same, a different role brings different risks. It’s important that current employees are vetted before switching roles.

It is possible that since beginning their job with the company, new information has been added to their criminal record. A new check will reveal any recent offences which could affect their suitability for the different role.

Is A Police Check Valid For Multiple Purposes?

A  Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in Australia is not valid for multiple purposes. Each case should be individually assessed to ensure the right protocol is applied. A police check is only accurate up to the date it is received. As with employment screening, the same applies to any other purpose a police check is used for. A background check for the purpose of obtaining licences and registrations, voluntary work, immigration purposes, visa applications and adoption purposes each require a unique police check to assess the individual for the correct reasons. This not only assures the security of others, but ensures that you, the applicant, is assessed fairly.

How Do Employers Determine If A Check Is Valid?

In most cases, employers will have their own measures in place for risk assessments when it comes to hiring new staff, and their own protocol to adhere to. Most will require recent police clearance to rule out any possibility of missed offences being released in the document.

When applying for a job, you can always ask the employer for clarification on whether they are willing to accept a police certificate you already have.

Ongoing Employee Screening

In some industries, ongoing employee screening is in place. For example, in the aged care sector, a renewed police check is required typically every three years. This keeps information up to date, and again acts as a preventative measure for putting others in the community at risk.

If a person is employed and is currently involved with the police for whatever reason, they should communicate the situation with their employer if it could have an impact on their career.

Do Criminal Records Expire?

In Australia, criminal records do not expire. An individual’s record will never be erased completely, however, for some convictions, there is a time frame for how long an offence must be disclosed for. All states and territories in Australia have legislation which limits the disclosure or certain information after a certain amount of time. This is known as the spent convictions scheme or spent convictions legislation.

The period of time after an offence is known as the ‘waiting period’. This is the time after an offence occurred in which the individual does not commit any further offences. In Australia, this tends to be 10 years for crimes committed as an adult, and 5 years for crimes committed as a minor. After the waiting period, the conviction becomes ‘spent’. The conviction still exists, but it will not be disclosed on an Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, unless under certain circumstances where the information is mandatory for safety reasons. A spent conviction will be spent automatically.

I Need A New Police Check. How Do I Get One?

All police checks can be obtained online through Worker Checks, as follows:

• Australian Federal Police Check (AFP Check),
• Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
• Overseas or International Police Check

All applications can be completed 100% online.

Please note, applications should be submitted as and when needed with a designated provider. They should not be submitted to multiple NPC providers in the hope of retrieving a different result. All accredited bodies access the same system to view police records, and will retrieve the same information in equal time.

Does A Police Check Ever Expire?

In short, an Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check does not expire, but it should not be relied upon for a long period of time. Much can change for any individual over time, and it is vital that new police history is recorded accurately.

It is important that organisations request recent police checks from individual’s to ensure accuracy and validity, to continue to support the security that any Police Check provides.

Yes. The process of applying for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is broadly the same no matter how long you have lived in or outside of Australia.

The key difference when applying for your national police check (also known as a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is that you have to click on the “Country” drop-down box when adding an international address in the relevant part of the form. From there, simply select the correct country and fill in the address.

The same applies if you are completing your  online application while you are either currently living outside of Australia or intending to live overseas in the future. All you have to do is include your overseas address and any other addresses you have lived at in the past five years.

Prior to and following that step, you can complete the form as normal. However, if you run into any problems when attempting to enter an international address or you find yourself unable to move on with the rest of the form, contact us. We’ll be happy to provide you with the assistance you need to complete the process smoothly.

Do I Need to Provide Additional Documentation as Part of My National Police Check Application if I Have Lived in Australia for Less Than Five Years?

While you do need to provide identifying documentation as part of your national police check application, you will not have to submit any additional documents if your five years of address history includes one or more international addresses. The only caveats are if you do not have any ID documents that have been issued by the Australian government.

For an national criminal history check application, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission stipulates that you must submit four documents, including one commencement document. This commencement document, whether it be an Australian birth certificate, an Australian visa, or an ImmiCard, must have been issued by the Australian government. 

It doesn’t matter if you currently live in, say, New South Wales and are applying for a Police Check NSW specifically. If you do not have any documentation that proves you have the right to live in that region or elsewhere in Australia, then you will not be able to proceed with your NPC application until you have acquired some.

What Other Documents Do I Need for My National Police Check?

Applicants will need to provide four documents from an extensive list that has been approved by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. These include, as mentioned above, one commencement document, also known as a commencement of identity document.

You will also need to provide one primary document. Your primary document can either be an Australian driver’s licence, an Australian marriage certificate, a passport, a proof of age or photo identity card, a firearms licence, or a student identification card.

Finally, you should upload two secondary documents, choosing from a selection that includes Medicare cards, certified academic transcripts, Australian utility bills, and more. Please click here for more information and a full list of ID documents you will be expected to provide and details of how to upload them.

Why do I need to provide my address history in my police check application?

The information retrieved by the relevant authorities following your application online must be entirely accurate. As such, there are strict guidelines in place to ensure that all police checks are carried out for the correct person. These guidelines include the requirement for applicants to provide five years of address history, as a means of verifying their identity.

With five years of your address history, it will be far easier to locate you on the appropriate national crime databases. Particularly if you have a common name, additional information such as your previous addresses, whether they be here in Australia or overseas, will help to ensure that your criminal history is checked rather than anyone else’s.

Further, you will also need to provide proof of address if you want to get the correct certificate for your region. So, for those whose current address is in, for example, West Australia, their applications may have to be for police clearance WA

What Other Personal Information Do I Need to Provide in My NCCHC Application?

It will also be necessary for you to provide some personal information as part of your NCCHC application process. So, in addition to five years of address history, you must submit such details as: 

• Your legal names and previous names, plus an additional document providing evidence of any name change.
• Your date and place of birth.
• Information about your gender.

This information will be used to verify your identity and locate you in national crime databases. So, accuracy is crucial. You should take great care to avoid even minor differences when giving your personal information, including inconsistent spacing and misspellings. Unfortunately, you may not receive police clearance if the information provided is incorrect.

If we have reason to believe that you have supplied incorrect information, we will contact you as soon as possible. We may be able to adjust your application accordingly if, for example, you have misspelled your address or incorrectly spaced your name. However, keep in mind that we also reserve the right to cancel your application if we are not satisfied with the details provided. 

Will My Online Police Check Application Take Longer to Process if I Have Lived in Australia for Less Than Five Years?

It could potentially take longer than the standard one hour to receive your result if you have lived in Australia for less than five years. As mentioned above, this has to do with the fact that additional, international organisations may have to be reached to help verify the address information provided in your application.

There are other reasons that your criminal record check may be delayed. For one thing, around 30% of all applications are selected for manual review by the National Police Checking System. This could delay the process by up to 15 business days, or longer in some exceptional cases. Other reasons include:

• If you have ever been to court or charged with an offence.
• If you have a common name or a name that matches with a person of interest in police databases.
• If any of your police information is old and requires manual collection.
• If your records are incomplete or inaccurate. 

Regardless, the vast majority of applications (around 70%) are processed in1 hour. If you are concerned that you have not yet received your application result, you can contact us regarding the progress of your police check at any time.

Police Check ID requirements – What information is required for police check?  We get this question a lot!

If you have decided to order your Police Check, you will need to know what kind of information is needed for the check to be completed. These are the necessary items that you will need to gather to be able to proceed with the Police Check process. There are no exceptions to these requirements and you will need to provide them all to be able to complete the police check process.

Police Checks can be done through a local post office or police station, but this slows down the process significantly as well as requiring that you fill out paper forms. Ordering your Police Check online is a far easier and more efficient option. If you are ready to check your criminal record at an affordable price and through a process that takes place 100% online, here is the personal information that will be needed.

What is a National Criminal History Check?

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is an official document that itemizes all of an individual’s criminal history in Australia. These offenses included are disclosable ones that took place in any state or territory in Australia. It does not matter where you are originally from.

You will always order a national police check that is valid in the state or territory that you currently reside in and the results are based on criminal records held by Australian police agencies. The Police Check will show any disclosable court outcomes, court sentences, records and pending Australian cases within Australia.

These police checks are completed for many reasons, such as when you apply for jobs, accept an internship, apply for citizenship, take a volunteer position, or when you begin the process of fostering or adopting a child. At Worker Checks, provide these police checks online to our customers for any of these needs.

We are reputable and we will provide a hassle-free experience for your National Police Check needs in the state or territory where you currently reside. No more having to drive to a separate location and wait in line to order your Police Check and no more waiting around for it to arrive after the fact. Our online ordering process makes the order and receipt of your Police Check quick and painless.

Can I Order my Police Check Online?

There are two primary ways to order your Police Check. You can order it manually or at a police station or post office. However, ordering your Police Check Online is often the easiest way to get this process done quickly and efficiently. If you want to avoid the line and the wait after you have submitted a paper Police Check Form, you will want to order your Police Check Online.

We offer a quick and simple ordering process that only takes 5 minutes to complete. If you have been dreading having to do this necessary and common bit of paperwork, being able to complete your Police Check online and having it on hand right away is a welcome relief.

You will just need some required documents and you will need to fill out an online application. We will ask to see your required documents with a selfie so that we can confirm your identity. After that, the rest is up to us! In many cases, you will receive your National Police Certificate within 60 minutes.

How Long Does it take to get a Police Check?

The actual online ordering process takes five minutes or so. This is quick, painless and much faster than applying at other locations! You will be done with your order in the time that it takes to make a cup of tea! Best of all, you will not have to leave the comfort of your home and you will not have to deal with the frustration of driving to another location to order and then finding out that you forgot a document that you needed!

About 70% of orders are completed within 1 hour and your National Police Certificate will be available in your secure personal portal as soon as the process is completed. This is the standard experience, but we will call if your personal information seems to be incomplete or if other errors are found to be present in your application. We are experts at reviewing and confirming that your order is complete and consistent.

You should know that about 30% of Australian Police Checks are delayed to be further reviewed by the National Police Checking System. This can add another 2 to 15 business days to your order. Due to this, we always recommend that you submit your order at least 10 days before you will need your completed Police Check in hand.

Submitting your order early will make sure that your application for a job or for a volunteer position will not be held up by delays that cannot be helped by you or by us. These checks are performed randomly and are not pre-selected by us in any way.

What Personal Information Will I Need to Provide?

The most common reason that you will be asked for a police check  to be done, is to be hired for a job. This is a required step for many jobs to protect your potential employer from anti-discrimination laws or privacy laws. It is not enough for you to just state that your record is clean.

You might be worried about the personal information that you will need to provide, but you can rest assured that none of the necessary information is invasive or should be considered too personal to provide.

To complete a Police Check NSW for example, you will need to provide the following documentation:

• 1 Commencement Document

The acceptable items that fall under this heading are a current Australian passport that is not expired or a Full Australian Birth Certificate. A birth card will not be accepted in place of a birth certificate. If you do not have either of these documents, you will need to provide an Australian Visa that is current or an ImmiCard issued by Immigration and Border Protection.

If you do not have any of these documents, you will need to provide a certificate of identity that has been issued by the Foreign Affairs and Trade or a Document of identity issued by the Foreign Affairs and Trade. The last item that you might be able to use is a certificate of evidence of resident status.

• 1 Primary Document

These documents are proof of identity and include a current Australian driver’s license or learner’s permit, an Australian marriage certificate, or a current passport from another country that shows valid entry into Australia. You can also use a current proof of age or photo ID card from an Australian government agency.

A firearms license can be used or a student ID card as well. All of these forms of ID must show your complete legal name, a photo, and signature.

• 2 Secondary Documents

These include a certificate of identity that has been issued by the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade or a document of Identity issued by them. You can also use a convention travel document secondary (UN) issued by the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A foreign driver’s license will also work.

Other options include things like bank and credit cards, credit reference checks, student ID cards, government-issued photo ID, consular photo ID or even your Medicare card.

These items will need to be provided whether you are ordering a Police Check in NSW or a Police Check VIC. Each territory or state will have its own police records on anyone who has committed an infraction while they resided in that location.

What Other Personal Information Will I Need to Provide?

A Criminal Record Check cannot be done if additional personal information is not provided. This is basic information that you likely used when you filled out your job application. The personal information that will be required includes:

• Current legal name
• Any other legal names you have had
• Place of birth
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Address history for the past 5 years

We will also ask that you provide a selfie with the necessary documents pictured. This image will be attached to the information above, which is supplied through an application form that is quick and easy to fill out. You do not need to stress about providing your personal information to us for the purposes of your Police Clearance process.

What is a National Police Certificate?

The National Police Certificate is the official document that you will be issued when you have completed the National Criminal History Check. This certificate will disclose any illegal activities that you have been involved in which led to a criminal record being established for you related to those activities.

You might be wondering how long this check is good for. Technically, there is no expiry date for these checks, however many businesses have their own regulations regarding how old a Police Check can be before a new one must be provided. You can refuse to provide a new Police Check, but this will likely result in you not being considered for the position that you have applied for.

A Criminal Record Check request should not be viewed as a sign that you are being treated with suspicion. This is a common practice when applying for jobs and trying to adopt or undertake volunteer jobs. These entities must satisfy their own requirements related to hiring anyone who has failed a Police Clearance related to the Spent Convictions Scheme.

These are basic practices that are undertaken by all reputable employers and organisations who are seeking to hire a new employee. They should not be looked at with embarrassment or frustration as they are common practice. Remember that these are practices that are required by the entity that is hiring you and that you are not being treated any differently than any other applicant.

Can I Dispute My Results?

You are able to dispute your results and we can help you with queries related to the accuracy of your Police Check results. Always contact us immediately if you think your Police Check is not correct and we will liaise with ACIC on your behalf or help you to start the necessary processes with your local Police Agency.

What About Police Checks in Other Locations?

No matter if you are ordering Police Checks in South Australia or Police Checks in West Australia, the process is the same. You will need to provide the same basic personal information and the same documentation. These rules are standardized for a reason and are intended to protect everyone who applies for jobs or caretaker roles from being treated with discrimination.

Remember that you will only need to order a Police Check in the state or territory in which you currently reside. There is no need to order a Police Check for another location that you lived in before. There are various rules related to infractions that were incurred in other locations other than your current primary address but these do not have any effect on the Police Check process in your current location.

What if I have Questions?

Contact us here if you have questions about our online ordering process or the documentation that you will need to provide. We want to take all of the guesswork out of your order and we know that it can be stressful to have to apply for a Police Check. It is hard enough having to wait to hear if you have gotten a job, and we want to be sure that the hiring process is not delayed for a moment longer than it has to be!

Click here if you are ready to start your application and you have the necessary documents on hand. We are ready to help you with your order, no matter what time of day you start the application process. We will deliver fast, efficient, and accurate results for you with every order that you place.

Anybody applying for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check will be required to provide 4 documents to prove their identity, no matter which service they use. But we are often asked  -What if my identity documents are in different names? – Can I still compete a police check ?

The requirements for a National Police Check are coordinated by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and must be followed properly. The rules are in place to protect the identity of individuals and to prevent cases of fraud. If there are issues with your ID documents, you may be required to obtain new ones. One main cause of problems with identity documents is the names displayed. All details including names, must be accurate and consistent throughout.

What If My Documents Are In Different Names?

When you apply for a police check online, you must provide 4 identity documents to complete your application. All 4 of these documents must be in your primary name. However, sometimes your name may be different on documents. This could be from taking your partner’s name after marriage, or having your name changed for other reasons.

In this case, you will be required to provide an official marriage certificate, or a change of name certificate. This will verify that the names on the documents match to the same person, i.e. you.

You should ensure that you have access to the required certificates if your documents are in different names, as you will not be able to continue with the police check application until all the requirements are met.

It’s important to note that alternative spellings of your name, or any misspellings, punctuation or spaces can all affect your application and result in difficulties processing your police check.

Do I Need To Provide All My Names?

As part of an Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check , it is mandatory for you to provide some personal information to verify and confirm your identity. This information includes your legal names, as well as any previous names. For instance, if you are married and have taken your partner’s name, you will need to provide your maiden name. If you have had your name changed legally for any other reason, you will need to provide your previous names.

All names must be spelt correctly and consistently. If Worker Checks or the alternative NPC provider you have used believes any of the information you have given to be inaccurate, you will be contacted to discuss the problem.

What If I Have Had My Name Changed?

Many people change their name for different purposes, usually for personal reasons. Anybody can change their name officially by lodging a legal name change application, provided that it is not for fraudulent purposes. Following a successful application, you will receive a certificate documenting your name change.

If you have had your name changed and are applying for a National Police Check, you will need to provide a copy of the name change certificate to demonstrate that the different names in your ID documents belong to you.

How Do I Get a Name Change Certificate?

You will usually obtain a change of name certificate when you apply for a name to be changed legally. If for whatever reason you do not have access to the certificate, you should contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Each state and territory in Australia is responsible for the provision of certificates, so you should contact the relevant agency.

What If I Am Married?

If you are married in Australia and have taken the surname of your spouse, the names on your documents may still show your maiden name. When applying for a police check online with documents in different names due to marriage, you must provide an official marriage certificate.This proves your name change by marriage and will verify and protect your identity.

How Do I Get A Marriage Certificate?

If you have lost or misplaced your official marriage certificate, you can request a replacement certificate from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. You will need to apply through the website of the relevant state or territory in Australia.

What Is The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages?

The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry is a government agency which allows people to do the following:

• Register a birth, death or marriage
• Apply for a certificate
• Change names
• Search family history
• Register adoptions
• Register changes of sex or gender

Please note that the individual state and territory governments in Australia are responsible for the provision of certificates. You will need to contact the relevant authority. For more information, visit the Australian government website.

What If My Name Is Spelt Wrong?

An Australian Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is an official document. For this reason, the contents of the National Police Certificate, including all personal information and identity documents must be fully correct.

It’s very important that you spend time checking your application carefully before you submit your online police check . You should check for any inconsistencies, typing errors and spelling mistakes throughout the form.

Any differences, no matter how minor can cause problems with your police check. This will cause delays and it cannot be determined how long you must wait for your national police clearance. Inconsistencies with formatting, spacing, hyphens, different spellings and more will be problematic. Please enter your information carefully.

What If An Alternative Spelling Of My Name Has Been Used?

If you receive your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and an alternative spelling of your name is printed, you must contact Worker Checks, or the relevant NPC provider as soon as possible. The identity requirements for a National Police Check are strict and in line with Australian government, and must be followed correctly at all times.

What Documents Do I Need?

Anybody who applies for an Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check needs to provide 4 ID documents. These include the following:

• 1 x Commencement Document
• 1 x Primary Document
• 2 x Secondary Documents

For a full list of suitable documents for each of the 4 categories mentioned above, visit the Police Check  Identity Frequently Asked Questions page on the Worker Checks website.

Why Do I Need To Provide a Selfie?

As well as the personal information and identity documents, you are also required to upload a selfie when completing your police check online.

The selfie is a method used to compare your appearance to the photograph in your identity document. This is another form of identity verification which is in place to verify and protect your identity, and to stop any other individual from claiming your details as their own.

The process for the selfie is as follows:

• Take a photo of yourself holding one form of photo ID, such as your passport or driver’s licence
• The photo is compared against the photo of you in your ID document, and cross checked electronically using automated tools
• The automated system will also recognise if the photo ID document has been altered in any way

What If I’ve Made a Mistake In My Application?

Once your police check has been submitted, you will need to wait for police clearance following a background check using the identity information you supplied. If you realise you have made a mistake in your application, or you believe there could be a mistake, you must contact the relevant agency you used to apply through immediately.

No matter how small the mistake, it is important to alert the relevant NPC provider to have it rectified. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner the mistake can be amended, and your application will be able to progress.

What Can I Do If I Don’t Have The Right Documents?

If you need to obtain a National Police Check, you have to supply the right documents as required in the application. Whichever provider you use, the documents and information required are exactly the same, as the requirements are set out by Australian government.

If you find that you do not have the right documents, you may need to apply for new documents from the relevant agencies. If you have the right documents but they have expired, you will need to obtain updated documents, as expired documents will not be accepted as part of your police check, with the exception of a passport expired under 2 years ago.

For problems relating to your name or names on documents, there may be an option to have them changed to the correct name. Contact us for any queries or concerns you have about documents and we will advise you the best possible way to move forward with your check.

Why Was My Document Not Accepted?

There are many reasons why a document you have given as part of your police check online may not be accepted. In these cases, the relevant agency will contact you directly using the email address or phone number you provided in your application. You will be informed of the problem, and advised and assisted in how to move forward with your Police Clearance. In some cases, there may be alternative documents which will be accepted.

One reason as to why a document will be rejected is because of issues with your name. If the document displays an abbreviation or alternative spelling of your name, this will be flagged as an inconsistency. Another possible reason for rejection is that the name on the document or any other personal information such as date of birth, may be displayed wrongly.

Other reasons for an unaccepted document can include the following:

• It is not written in English
• It is not an accepted form of ID
• It is expired/no longer valid or it has been cancelled
• It has been provided in the wrong category (each of the 3 categories – commencement, primary and secondary must have the correct type of document)

Why Do You Need My Documents?

All organisations and providers of Australian police checks must follow the strict application process for identity information. Each provider, including Worker Checks Pty Ltd, has a legal obligation to request and access your identity documents in order to verify your identity.

Every applicant must follow the same process and provide the right documents, or they will be unable to get a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

In certain situations, you may have special circumstances which warrant special provisions to be made if you cannot provide the required documents. If you believe you have a genuine reason or inability as to why you are unable to produce the documents, you should contact our customer service team for advice.

Please note, special circumstances are rare and will be reviewed carefully for accuracy. Lost, stolen or expired documents will not be accepted as valid reasons for special provisions.

Who Do I Contact For More Help?

For those who have applied for a National Police Check with Worker Checks, contact our customer service team via phone, email or using the online contact form.

For details, visit the Contact Us page.

Never has the Importance of Police Checks for employment screening been more prevalent. Employment screening during the recruitment process can be a lengthy task. Choosing who to hire and feeling comfortable about who you can trust is a big decision. For many companies, policies and procedures are in place to help streamline the recruitment process, and to find the best candidate for the job. Obtaining a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check on potential new employees can help companies to make the right decision, and ensure that the likelihood of the candidate posing a threat is minimal.

Many employers use the police checking service as part of their risk assessment process. To eliminate risk or threat to any party, a police check can be issued as an important requirement for pre-employment screening.

The Importance of Police Checks For Employment Screening

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check plays a crucial role in the recruitment process for many employers and organisations. Essentially, an applicant for a job is usually a complete stranger to the employer. By requesting a police check, the identity of the applicant can be verified and confirmed. Any important police history information which may be relevant to the position will be disclosed in the form of a National Police Certificate. This allows the employer to make an informed decision before hiring the candidate.

While police checks are not necessary for all industries, as an employer or company you should be aware of whether or not a police check is suitable for the job in question, and whether adding national police check as a mandatory requirement will benefit the business in any way.

What Is a Police Check?

Firstly, it’s important to understand what a police check is. A National Police Check, also referred to as a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, is a legal document in Australia coordinated by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and the accredited body serving as a NPC provider. It is a ‘point in time’ check which declares the police history of an individual after giving their consent, including previous convictions and any other information held in police records.

What Information Will a Police Check Include?

A National Police Check is obtained from using the personal details such as name, date of birth and gender to search police databases across Australia. The search will reveal criminal history kept on police records, if there is any. This information will then be released on a National Police Certificate following Spent Legislation policies and other considerations determined by each police agency individually.

The results of a criminal history check will show one of two results, either:

• No Disclosable Court Outcomes (NDCO) or
• Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO)

What Are Disclosable Court Outcomes?

A Disclosable Court Outcomes result may include information relating to the following:

• Charges
• Convictions/sentences
• Penalties
• Court appearances
• Traffic offences
• Court orders
• Findings of guilt without conviction

Why Is a Police Check Important?

A police check is of great importance when it comes to employment screening. The main factor of importance is safety and security, but there are several other aspects as to why a police check is crucial for choosing the right candidate. There are also many benefits for an employer or company who require that a background check be performed when hiring new employees.

Protection and Security

The most important purpose behind a National Police Check for pre-employment screening is the most obvious one – for protection and safety. Hiring people you know are safe and trustworthy creates a safer working environment. The check serves to protect the employer, existing employees, clients, consumers, and vulnerable groups. As well as protecting people, a police check can help to protect company assets and private information, as well as prevent cases of fraud or other crimes of an economic nature.

After viewing the information disclosed in a National Police Certificate, the employer or recruiter can make an informed decision based on the police information available.

Safety

Safety should be a top priority for pre-employment screening. In some industries, the safety of all involved could be jeopardised by a missed opportunity to view an individual’s police history information.

The level of risk involved is dependent upon the job. In cases where the applicant seeks to work with children or vulnerable people, a more thorough check will be required.

Identity Verification

Another primary purpose of a Police Check is to verify that the person applying for a position is really who they say they are. The police check requires identity documents and personal information from the applicant to validate their identity, as well as a photo ID and selfie for cross referencing. This process not only prevents the individual from others stealing their information and becoming a victim of fraud, but it assures the employer or company that the applicant’s information is accurate and true.

A National Criminal History Check can also confirm the education and employment history of an applicant which in turn helps to speed up the hiring process and verify the accuracy of the information provided.

Faster Hiring Procedure

By requesting a police check from individuals applying for an employment position, the hiring process can be much quicker. As an employer, rather than looking into the background of a candidate yourself or trying to gather information to confirm their application, a police check carried out by an accredited NPC provider will give you the important information you need to know. This saves time and ensures complete identity verification.

Professional Standards

Police checks offer a high standard of procedure for recruitment. Acquiring a criminal history check shows that the employer takes matters seriously when it comes to hiring staff, and screening is a professional way to find candidates who are both suitable and eligible for the position.

Reputation Protection

A reputable company name is important for growth, client satisfaction and trust. Adding Australian police checks to the requirements of a job application shows due diligence on behalf of the company. It is a proactive measure to avoid jeopardizing both the business and its people. Prioritising pre-employment screening shows care and concern toward all parties involved with the job and builds a strong reputation.

Reduce Time Wasting

Requesting a police check before the new employee starts work will prevent time being wasted further down the line. Any training should not be given until the new employee has successfully received national police clearance and eligibility for the role has been confirmed.

The applicant must be proven to be safe for work within the company and to minimise any threat to fellow employees, or any person or people the applicant will have access to within the job. This cuts out any time being wasted on training and preparing a new employee who has not yet been confirmed as suitable and safe for work, as the process would have to start over if the police clearance was unsuccessful.

Working With Children and Vulnerable People

When you apply for a police check online, you will be asked whether you are going to be working with children or vulnerable people. It is highly important that the police agencies know this information so that the correct legislation and spent conviction regimes are applied when conducting the check. Certain prior convictions or charges may be highly relevant to the job that the applicant is applying for, and this will determine if the information, if any, will be released in the results.

Working with children or vulnerable people will have an impact on the information presented in the document, as working with these groups poses a greater risk and a full assessment must be carried out. In some cases, the applicant may need another type of police check called a Working With Children Check.

What Is a Risk Assessment?

Police checks are obtained as part of a risk assessment for new employees. Each company will have its own measures and protocol in place for dealing with new members of staff for health and safety reasons. The level of risk involved is dependent on the position. Most pre-employment screening is conducted to ensure a safe environment for the most vulnerable groups in the community, including children, elderly people and people who have a disability.

A risk assessment is performed as an integral part of health and safety in the workplace. Different organisations and employers have their own safety procedures to follow, but all are designed to reduce the chance of injury, harm, fraud and other economic crimes, and many other risks which threaten the company and its people.

Does Every Employee Need a Police Check?

Depending on the industry and the organisation, not every new employee will require a National Police Check. Police checks are compulsory for many industries that work with the public and in care settings. Industries which regularly require a criminal background check are as follows:

• Community services
• Healthcare
• Medical care
• Childcare
• Education
• Government
• Defence
• Banking and finance
• GIG Economy Workers

How Does An Employee Obtain a Police Check?

To obtain a National Police Check for employment purposes, the employee can apply for a police check online using an accredited provider such as Worker Checks Pty Ltd. Many organisations use a preferred provider, so it is a good idea to check with your potential employer which service provider they would like you to use for your police check.

The process is easy if you read through the information thoroughly to ensure you have the correct identity documents and personal information that is needed.

The process can be completed in as little as 5 minutes, and involves entering your details such as name, gender, date and place of birth. Next you’ll need to provide 4 documents to verify your identity, as well as a selfie of yourself holding one format of photo identification.

What Rights Does The Employee Have?

Any candidate applying for a job is not legally required to volunteer information relating to their police history. If asked for information about their criminal background, they are not obligated to answer. However, the candidate is required to disclose criminal information held on their record if the job requirements specify that a police check is needed, usually in jobs working with children or vulnerable persons.

It can be useful for employers to provide an explanation as to why certain convictions and criminal history is relevant to a particular job. The requirement of a police check should be clearly stated in the job advertisement to give the candidate the opportunity to decide whether they would like to continue with their application.

I Am An Employer And I Want To Know More About Police Checks For Employee Screening. Who Do I Contact?

If you are an employer and wish to add a National Police Check to your job entry requirements, contact Worker Checks Pty Ltd for information about registering as an employer. You can also find more information on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission website about how to get a check for your employees.

If you’ve been asked to apply for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check as part of a job application process, you might be wondering whether it’s  possible to clear your criminal record. And, thanks to spent convictions legislation in place in regions across Australia, it is.

See below for information on how spent convictions legislation works and how it varies between different States and Territories.

Plus, find out more about how the national police checking (NPC) process works if you have spent convictions, how to dispute NPC results if your spent convictions show up on your certificate, and how long a certificate with unspent convictions is valid.

What types of convictions are in my Criminal Record?

There is spent convictions legislation in place in all Australian States and Territories. Simply put, this exists to automatically clear the criminal records of former offenders, meaning wiped or ‘spent’ convictions will not show up on their Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check certificates.

There are, however, certain terms and conditions to bear in mind as well as variations in the application of this legislation in different states.

For starters, convictions will become spent after different waiting periods in different areas of Australia. In addition, some convictions can never become spent, and there are circumstances under which even spent convictions will be disclosed in a check certificate.

How Long Before a Conviction Becomes Spent?

Generally speaking, a conviction becomes spent after 10 years if it was given when the offending person was an adult, or five years if the offender was a child at the point of conviction. However, these rules may vary depending on the region in which a person received their conviction.

In New South Wales (NSW), for example, a child’s conviction will be considered spent after just three years. Plus, some convictions in the region may be wiped early as the result of good behaviour. So, it is advised that you meet the conditions of your conviction if you want to apply for a police check NSW and receive a national police certificate with no listed convictions.

What Criminal Offences Will Never Become Spent?

In most States and Territories across Australia, sexual offences can never become spent, no matter how many years have passed since the date of conviction. As such, any sexual offences committed will always show up on an offender’s NPC certificate. In some instances, this is also the case when the offender was a minor at the time of conviction.

Additionally, convictions in Western Australia will not become spent automatically. Rather, those with convictions on their criminal record must apply for a spent conviction on the Western Australia government website.

Keep this in mind if you are applying for WA police clearance. If you fail to apply for a spent conviction in time, it may still be listed on your national police certificate.

Under What Circumstances Will My Spent Convictions Be Disclosed in an NPC?

Even if your convictions become spent, there are some instances in which they might still be disclosed on a national police certificate.

You may notice that, during the NPC application process, you are asked to provide information on the purpose of your national police check. If the reason you need a police certificate is any of the following, older convictions may still appear:

• Working with children.
• Working with the elderly.
• Working with disabled or otherwise vulnerable people.
• Working in immigration.
• Working as a commercial driver.
• Employment in a hospital.

To find out if older convictions are likely to be disclosed on your police certificate, refer to the police check legislation for your State or Territory.

What Information Does a Police Check Certificate Typically Include?

The primary purpose of a police check certificate is for employers to ascertain whether you have any convictions on your criminal record, particularly those that would make hiring you a risk either to the company or the people it serves. As such, every certificate will come back either with ‘disclosable outcomes’ or ‘no disclosable outcomes.’

Disclosable outcomes are the convictions that are listed on the certificate. If you have been charged for a crime but have not yet appeared in court, that charge may be included as well.

If your certificate has no disclosable outcomes, that most likely means you have no recorded convictions, or your convictions have become spent. Or, it could mean that any convictions found during your criminal record check were not considered relevant to the position you applied for.

Will Interstate Convictions Be Included on My National Police Certificate?

Yes, your national police certificate will list any relevant convictions from all States and Territories throughout Australia. Even when you apply for a regional (or state based) police check, police databases from all regions will be searched. In doing so, the information you provide can be matched with person of interest records across the country.

So, if a person were convicted of a crime in Brisbane, that conviction would still show up on their national police certificate if they applied for SA police check.

How Accurate Are National Police Checks?

As long as you enter the correct details upon application, the outcomes listed on your national police certificate should be accurate. However, even small mistakes in the spelling or spacing of the information you provide could result in an inaccurate search.

It is in your best interests to provide the right information when completing an NPC online application. That way, you can be sure you won’t receive a certificate that lists convictions that are not attributable to you.

If we have reason to believe that the information you provided is incorrect, we will contact you as soon as possible. We may be able to amend any mistakes for you before the police checking process begins. However, please note that we do reserve the right to reject applications that contain inadequate information.

What Personal Information Do I Have to Provide for My NPC Application?

For the first step of your police check online application, you will be asked to enter your name, contact details such as your email address and phone number, and information related to the purpose of your police check.

Then, after you pay your fees through the secure online platform, you will be prompted to provide the following additional details:

• Your gender.
• Your date of birth.
• Five years of address history.

Will My National Police Check Certificate Show Spent Convictions If My Identifying Documents Are in Different Names?

As well as your personal information, you also need to provide four types of identifying documentation. If you have recently changed your name and not had time to update your IDs, you will be required to include an official marriage certificate or change of name document in your application, too. This will help to prove the link between your former name and current name.

So, if you have convictions that only became spent following your legal name change, you don’t have to worry about those convictions showing up on your police clearance certificate. Any changes to your convictions will be acknowledged, whether or not you’ve had time to update your documents.

What Happens When I Submit My National Police Check Application If I Have Spent Convictions?

Once you have entered your details, uploaded your identifying documents, and paid your fees, you should be just about ready to submit your application. The process that follows is the same regardless of whether you have spent convictions, unspent convictions, or no convictions at all.

As soon as we receive an application, we check that the information provided is accurate before submitting it to the National Police Checking Service. There, they will search national and all regional criminal databases to see if there’s a match between the information you provided and persons of interest known to the authorities.

Before your results are returned to Worker Checks, they will be sent to a police agency. There, it will be determined what convictions (if any) will be included in your application. So, if you have spent convictions, this is the point at which that they will be struck from your certificate. The only exception is if your spent convictions are found to be relevant to the purpose of your application.

Will It Take Longer to Process a National Police Check If I Have Spent Convictions?

In most cases, it takes just one hour for an applicant to receive their certificate. However, in some instances, the process can be delayed for up to 15 days. This happens when the National Police Checking Service selects an application for further review.

It is not possible to predict whether your application will be selected for review because it can happen whether you have spent convictions or not.

Can I Dispute the Disclosable Outcomes on My National Police Certificate If I Have Spent Convictions?

If your national police certificate is returned to you with disclosable outcomes but you believe your convictions have become spent, it is possible to dispute your results. However, please bear in mind that if your certificate shows your spent convictions, there will most likely be a reason why.

Remember that there are certain exceptions to spent convictions legislation. These state that if your spent convictions are relevant to the purpose of your NPC application, they may still be included on your certificate.

Say, for example, that an applicant needs an NPC certificate for employment in a school. If that applicant has prior convictions for offences against children, it is highly likely those convictions will be disclosed, regardless of how long it has been since the offence occurred.

Still, if you would like to dispute your results, you should contact us as soon as possible. We will be able to liaise with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission on your behalf.

Will I Need to Get a New National Criminal History Check If My Convictions Become Spent?

Any police check is a ‘point in time’ check. As such, the certificate you receive will be valid at the time of issue. It will only be considered invalid when the organisation that requested it asks you to renew or if the status of any of your conviction’s changes.

Therefore, you will be required to apply for a new national police certificate when your convictions become spent. It is likely to be of more benefit to you to produce a certificate with fewer or no disclosable outcomes.

Can I Still Get Hired If My Check Certificate Shows Unspent Convictions?

Having no disclosable outcomes is the desired result for most people who apply for a police check in Australia. However, having unspent convictions listed on your certificate does not necessarily mean you won’t get hired.

It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that not all organisations will ask you to complete a national police check. Those that do will quite likely have a good reason for not wanting to take on applicants with a criminal history. This is especially true of offenders whose convictions are considered to make them a higher risk to the people the organisation serves.

Are There Any Other Ways to Clean My Criminal Record in Australia?

No, the only way to clear your criminal record in the different States and Territories across Australia is for your convictions to become spent.

That being said, spent convictions legislation is applied slightly differently in the different regions of Australia. So, it’s worth reading up on the way spent convictions work where you are. The outcomes disclosed on an applicant’s NPC certificate may vary depending on whether they apply for a police check Vic, one in Queensland, or elsewhere in the country.

Police checks (Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks) are a common procedure in Australia for employment purposes. Many recruiters request a mandatory police check from candidates as part of the job entry process. This is mainly to verify the identity of the candidate, and to disclose important information regarding their police history which may affect their suitability for the role they apply for.

Australian police checks strengthen the employment screening process to protect the most vulnerable people in the community. By accessing the details of a person’s police background through a criminal record check, the organisation or employer can make an informed choice as to whether they post a threat to vulnerable persons. All applicants must be thoroughly assessed and approved for work in this sector.

Who Is Classified As A Vulnerable Person?

A vulnerable person refers to:

• Minors under the age of 18, i.e. a child or children
• A person over the age of 18 who is or may not be able to take care of themselves. This includes an inability to protect themselves against harm or exploitation.

In general terms, there are three groups of people in the community who are categorised as vulnerable persons. This includes children, the elderly and people with a disability. A National Police Check can be used for pre-employment screening for individuals working or seeking to work with any of these groups. There are also other types of checks which provide a more thorough screening for each group, such as Working With Children Checks and NDIS Worker Screening Checks.

What Makes A Person Vulnerable?

A person is classified as vulnerable if they are not completely capable of taking care of themselves, whether for physical or mental purposes. It could be for reasons of age, disability, physical or mental illness, trauma, or any other matter that makes a person less able to protect and care for themselves.

What Is The Vulnerable Sector?

The sector of industry which works with vulnerable people includes any type of setting where a level of care is provided. This includes the aged care sector, childcare and care for people with a disability.

People working in this sector are employed to support and care for the mental and physical wellbeing of people who cannot fully care for themselves.

Positions working with the vulnerable can include:

• Roles within Information and Technology services which handle sensitive information belonging to vulnerable people or where the employee has access to personal information
• Voluntary positions working in various community service industries such as mental health services, women’s services, homeless support, youth support, addiction support etc.
• Health professions such as doctor and nurse roles
• Carers, residential support workers and community support workers
• Any child-related employment, including health, education, child welfare, entertainment and religious sectors

What Requirements Are Needed To Work With The Vulnerable?

The main requirement needed for undertaking work with vulnerable groups is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.This not only determines that the person does not have any prior convictions, but confirms that the person is who they claim to be.

An individual cannot partake in work, whether employed or voluntary, with vulnerable people without obtaining national Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

Who Cannot Work With The Vulnerable?

Following the disclosure of a person’s criminal record check on a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, the information will be assessed.

Having a criminal record does not definitely exclude you from working with vulnerable people. However, this is highly dependent upon the offences committed, and the role which you apply for. Each case is assessed individually by police authorities and many aspects are taken into consideration during the review. For example, this could include how long ago the offence happened, the nature of the offence, how relevant it is to the role, and the type and level of contact that the applicant will have with the vulnerable person.

Some prior convictions which include serious crimes will immediately prevent the person from working with vulnerable people. This typically includes murder, assault, sex crimes and cruelty to children.

It is the responsibility of the police agencies across Australia to ensure the disclosure of important criminal history on a National Police Certificate so that employers are made aware before hiring any individual.

Why Is A Police Check Important?

A police check is crucial for industries working with vulnerable groups whether children, the elderly or disabled persons. This is because the organisation must know who they are hiring and carry out a full risk assessment based on the individual’s background check. Mandatory police clearance strengthens the screening process to prioritise the safety and protection of those with a vulnerability.

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is highly common for pre-employment processes. Putting and keeping the vulnerable in safe hands is a top priority for police check requirements. Only fully screened and approved individuals should be given access to work with vulnerable people to ensure the best possible level of service and protection to those who need it.

The background check will reveal any prior offences committed by the employee/potential employee which will be reviewed to determine if these prior crimes could put vulnerable people in their care at risk.

Caring for vulnerable people is a serious profession, and a police check is vital for this industry.

What Protective Measures Are In Place?

When a person applies for a job working with vulnerable people, they are required to submit a police check for safety measures. Every National Police Check requires 4 identity documents and some personal information including names, date and place of birth, and 5 year residential address history. The document requirement is in place to better confirm and validate the person’s identity while checking for consistency in the person’s information.

When applying for a police check online, the applicant will be asked to confirm whether they are going to be working with children or vulnerable people. This gives the police agencies a better understanding of the importance of the criminal background check, and allows the application to be assessed correctly using the right protocol.

The authorities will then use spent convictions legislation and other relevant policies to determine the potential level of risk from the individual. The screening will review any patterns in behaviour, one-off offences, or crimes which could be linked to or have an impact on vulnerable persons.

There are other types of checks which are targeted to specific industries within the vulnerable care sector, including Working with Children Checks and NDIS Worker Checks for those working with people who are living with a disability.

Working With Children Checks

The Working With Children Check in Australia is another type of police check for screening people who work or seek to work with children, including volunteers. While each Australian state and territory has its own measures in place, Working with Children Checks are mandatory across Australia to ensure safe environments for children.

People who may require a this type of check include anybody applying for child-related work, such as the following:

• Accommodation services
• Child protection
• Child-minding
• Coaching, clubs and sports
• Education
• Child health
• Child transport services
• Religious organisations

NDIS Worker Screening Checks

An NDIS Worker Screening Check is the assessment of an individual who works with, or applies to work with people with disability. This is different to a National Police Check in that it is more thorough, and is targeted directly to those who seek to work in disability services.

The assessment clarifies if the individual could be harmful to the disabled persons, or pose any sort of risk to them. This will prevent unsuitable candidates from being employed in certain roles that work closely with people with disability.

More information on NDIS Worker Screening Checks can be found on the website of the NDIS Commission.

Working With Vulnerable People Registration

The Working with Vulnerable People Registration is another type of check for individuals working with vulnerable groups. This is an assessment which is ongoing to ensure the eligibility of the individual employed or volunteering in a vulnerable persons environment.

Unlike the National Police Check which is a point in time check, the Working with Vulnerable People Registration is ongoing, performing regular reviews of a person’s criminal history or any other police related information. Whether or not you need this type of check is dependent on the legislation of different states and territories in Australia.

Spent Convictions Scheme

The general aim behind spent convictions legislation is to stop individuals from being judged by certain older, previous convictions by limiting the disclosure of such offences following a period of good behaviour. This is the case where convictions are less serious, or were committed a long time ago when the individual was a youth.

Under Commonwealth law, the spent convictions scheme is usually passed after a 10 year period if the offender has continued with good behaviour and has not reoffended in this time.

In many cases, individuals with spent convictions who apply for jobs working with vulnerable groups will have their full police history disclosed, no matter how long ago the offence took place.

How Long Is A Police Check Valid For?

A National Police Check is valid at the date of issue, which means the certificate only reports on offences up to this date. This is called a point in time check. While a national police certificate does not officially expire, organisations and employers must decide how often they require an updated check, and whether it is satisfactory to accept an old check.

How To Get A Check

A National Police Check can be obtained by applying for a police check online with an ACIC accredited NPC provider such as Worker Checks.

Some organisations will have their own protocol for obtaining a police check and will use particular providers. You should check this when applying for a job, but it is usually referenced in the job advertisement.

Your organisation or potential employer should inform you of any other types of police check you may need, such as checks for working in the childcare or disability sector. Organisations often use police checks as part of their own investigation into candidates, but some roles are required by law to include certain types of checks, such as Working with Children Checks and NDIS Worker Screening Checks.

How Police Checks Protect The Vulnerable

Police checks work as a proactive measure to prevent danger or harm coming to the people in society who are more vulnerable. By conducting a police check during the employment process before an individual begins working in the industry, the employer or organisation is informed of important information which may affect the decision as to whether the person applying for the role poses a risk.

People working with the vulnerable populations must be of good character, and not have any prior convictions or charges which could jeopardize the safety of the person or people under their care.

All organisations in the vulnerable care industry must ensure proper protocol is followed and measures are taken to keep those most at risk in the safest environment.