NDIS Worker Screening Checks
When an individual applies in any role under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, they must undertake a risk assessment check for the NDIS to make informed decisions whether a person poses unacceptable risks to people with disability.
The check is quite distinct from the National Criminal History Checks (NCHC). And it is handled by the government screening units of the NDIS.
This newly improved NDIS Worker screening check is valid for up to 5 years from the point of issue.
It is important to note that a Police Check and an NDIS Worker Screening Check are two different checks.
There are various differences between the Checks and chief of them is that an NDIS worker screening check takes into account more information about an individual than just their criminal record.
A Police Clearance is a point in time check; it contains a list of all Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCOs) of an individual in Australia. Also, all records are released in accordance with the Spent Convictions Scheme.
On the other hand, the NDIS Worker screening Check helps mitigate and expunge the risks to people with disability from the people who provide them with assistance.
An NDIS check takes into account more risk factors than a national police check. The factors considered in an NDIS Check consider criminal history, workplace misconduct, AVOS, information about past employment, juvenile offences and any other relevant information that may determine whether a worker poses a risk to a person with disability.
The NDIS workers screening check is only relevant for people who apply for roles under the NDIS.
All workers seeking to work in roles that involve care for people with a disability (irrespective of the degree) must approach the NDIS for a worker screening check.
The checks are also national and will enable screened workers to deliver support services in other states and territory in Australia.
The NDIS workers screening check is the priority document for those involved in NDIS related work.
The NDIS is an assessment of the potential risks in employing people for roles that have to do with the care of people with disability. These people are vulnerable and need all the assistance they can get, including assessing those who work with them.
As an organisation that provides services under the NDIS, ensure that all employees/volunteers under your organisation undergo the mandatory clearance by the NDIS worker screening units in charge of the relevant State or Territory. The worker screening units also make decisions on whether a person is cleared, excluded or prohibited.
Both workers engaged in NDIS services, unregistered NDIS providers and self-managed providers will be able to apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check through their state or territory government screening unit.
All of these agencies have a ‘worker screening unit’. The unit is responsible for accepting and processing all NDIS Worker screening check applications from workers and conducts the risk assessment or tests to determine whether a worker should receive clearance.
- The application process for an NDIS worker includes a submission of the applicants (worker) contact and information details at the NDIS Worker screening units and completing the rest of the application form.
- Workers also have to prove their identity for the information they have provided via legal IDs in Australia. However, these processes may vary among states and territories where they make the application.
- There is a fee that every applicant for the NDIS workers screening check must pay during/before applying. This fee is set by the State or Territory where the application is made.
- During the application process, workers will also nominate or provide information about the NDIS provider or the self-managed participant who engages or intends to engage them for NDIS support and services.
- The NDIS provider or self-managed participant must equally verify the claim of the applicant that the worker is either engaged by them or is an intended employee.
Note that the application will not proceed to assessment until the relevant and registered NDIS provider or self-managed participant verifies the application.
NDIS providers should ensure that all of their workers, volunteers and relevant partners have an NDIS Worker Screening Check or an acceptable check under the transitional and special arrangements. These Checks/procedures obviate unacceptable risks or dangers from workers to people with disability.
All registered NDIS providers must request an NDIS worker screening check from their workers or accept checks in Australia.
NSW NDIS support workers can request a check here:
Registered NDIS agencies in Victoria must ensure their workers must obtain an NDIS worker screening Check before or while employed in roles covered by the NDIS regulations.
VIC NDIS support workers can request a check here:
Anyone in Queensland (QLD) seeking to work in roles subsumed in the NDIS, they must obtain the NDIS worker screening check. It is issued by the agency present in your state and is mandatory. No acceptable checks are valid after the transition period except on special conditions.
QLD NDIS support workers can request a chck here:
QLD: Queensland Disability Worker Screening
All registered NDIS providers that deliver support and services in Tasmania must ensure that all their workers provide or have registered for their NDIS workers screening Check.
TAS NDIS support workers can request a check here:
TAS: TAS Work with vulnerable people and NDIS Worker screening
Workers and volunteers involved in all NDIS stipulated roles must ensure that their workers especially those in risk assessed roles obtain an NDIS worker screening Check.
WA NDIS support workers can request a check here:
WA: Department of Communities WA NDIS Worker screening check
Workers who seek to work in NDIS included roles in SA must obtain NDIS workers screening Check from this portal
NDIS Working Screening in the ACT
Any person who applied for a Working with Vulnerbale People (WWVP) registration and was issued with a general WWVP registration, will not need to apply to work or volunteer in an NDIS activity until the WWVP registration is due to expire.
NDIS employers in the ACT will recognise a WWVP registration and allow a registration holder to work or volunteer in an NDIS activity until the WWVP registration expires.
Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) check – ACT, please apply here
All registered NDIS providers in the NT must ensure that any of their workers in a risk-assessed role should provide or have registered for NDIS workers screening Check.
All unregistered workers engaged in risk assessed roles can register through this website
Disability Support Worker Checks – Solution for Workers
Worker Checks provide a single solution for Disability Support Worker Checks – you can conduct any police checks required and add your NDIS and WWCC and your qualifications to you online portal. You can then share this with your employer !
Disability Support Worker Checks – Check & Qualification Solution