1. What is a police check in Australia?

A police check in Australia — officially called a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) — is a search of the national criminal history database maintained by all Australian police agencies. It returns a certificate listing any disclosable court outcomes and pending charges recorded against your name across every state and territory.

The National Police Checking Service (NPCS) is administered by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), which accredits organisations (called “accredited bodies”) to submit checks on behalf of individuals. Worker Checks Pty Ltd is one of these ACIC-accredited bodies.

You may also hear a police check referred to as a criminal history check, police clearance, criminal record check, or National Police Certificate — they all refer to the same process.

2. Who needs a police check?

A police check is commonly required for:

• Employment — most employers require a police check as part of pre-employment screening
• Volunteering — charities, community organisations, and schools often require volunteer checks
• Licensing and registration — security, real estate, financial services, rideshare, and other regulated industries
• Aged care and disability — mandatory screening for NDIS providers and aged care workers
• Childcare and education — required alongside Working with Children Checks in most states
• Healthcare — AHPRA registration and hospital employment
• Tenancy applications — increasingly requested by property managers
• Immigration and visas — required for certain visa classes (AFP check specifically)

If an employer, organisation, or government body asks you to provide a “police check”, “criminal history check”, or “police clearance”, an NCCHC from an ACIC-accredited provider will meet the requirement in almost all cases. The exception is immigration-related checks, which require an AFP-issued certificate (see Section 7).

3. How to apply for a police check online

1. Choose your check type — employment ($49 inc. GST) or volunteer ($21 inc. GST). Select the correct type for your purpose.
2. Create your account — register with the same mobile number you used at checkout.
3. Verify your identity — start by scanning your primary ID document (passport or driver licence) and completing a biometric selfie match on your phone. Then during the application, upload images of your second and third identity documents (e.g. birth certificate, Medicare card, utility bill). Each document must be a different type.
4. Complete your application — provide your full name, date of birth, 5-year address history, and the purpose of the check.
5. Receive your certificate — 80% of checks are completed within 1–3 minutes. You’ll receive an SMS and email notification when your result is ready. Your certificate is delivered to your secure online portal where you can download the PDF, print it, or share it electronically with employers.

What ID do you need?

You need 3 identity documents, each a different type. The first document is verified biometrically (scanned and matched against a selfie on your phone). The second and third documents are uploaded as images during the application:

• Document 1 (biometric verification): Australian passport (expired up to 2 years OK), foreign passport (with valid Australian visa), or Australian driver licence/learner permit
• Document 2 (image upload): Australian passport, foreign passport (current), Australian driver licence, ImmiCard, or birth certificate
• Document 3 (image upload): Medicare card, utility bill, Working with Children Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check, tax file number, electoral enrolment, or other accepted supporting documents

No need to visit a post office, JP, or police station — everything is completed online from your phone or computer.

For the full list of accepted documents, see Police Check ID Requirements.

4. How much does a police check cost?

Every ACIC-accredited provider issues the same NCCHC certificate from the same national database. The certificate is identical regardless of which provider you use — price differences reflect service fees only.

* GST inclusion not confirmed on provider website. † GST exempt. Prices verified April 2026 — confirm current pricing directly with each provider. For a detailed comparison including mobile support and business portals, see the full provider comparison.

5. How long does a police check take?

Processing time depends on how you apply:

• Online ACIC-accredited provider (e.g. Worker Checks): 80% within 1–3 minutes
• Australian Federal Police (AFP): 5–7 business days
• State police (e.g. Victoria Police, QLD Police via Australia Post): 10+ business days

Why do some checks take longer?

Approximately 20% of all applications are flagged for manual review by state and territory police agencies. This happens when the system finds a potential match against police records that requires human verification. No accredited provider can speed up manual reviews — this step is handled entirely by police agencies and the ACIC.

Common reasons for manual review include: common names generating false matches, name changes, previous addresses in multiple states, or the applicant having disclosable court outcomes.

6. What shows up on a police check?

What IS included:

• Criminal convictions and findings of guilt
• Pending charges (not yet resolved in court)
• Court-imposed orders
• Traffic offences heard in court (e.g. drink driving, dangerous driving)
• Non-police prosecuted matters heard in court (e.g. tax offences, workplace safety)

What is NOT included:

• Spent convictions (in most circumstances, under relevant state/territory legislation)
• Charges that were withdrawn, dismissed, or where no conviction was recorded
• Juvenile records (in most states)
• Infringement notices (parking fines, speeding fines not heard in court)
• Interactions with police that did not result in charges

What appears on your certificate depends on the purpose of the check and which state or territory’s legislation applies. Some categories — such as working with children, aged care, or positions of trust — may result in broader disclosure of records that would otherwise be spent or protected.

For a detailed state-by-state breakdown, see the complete state-by-state guide to what shows up on a police check.

7. AFP check vs NCCHC — which do you need?

Both checks draw from the same national police database, so the criminal history information returned is equivalent. The differences are:

Rule of thumb: if your employer, regulator, or organisation has not specifically asked for an “AFP check” or “AFP National Police Certificate”, an NCCHC is what you need. If you’re applying for an Australian visa, you need an AFP check.

For a detailed comparison, see Which Police Check Do I Need?

8. What is ACIC accreditation and why it matters

Not every company offering “police checks” online is ACIC-accredited. Some are resellers that submit your application through a third-party accredited body, adding cost and delay. When you apply through a directly accredited provider like Worker Checks, your application goes straight to the ACIC system.

To be accredited, an organisation must meet strict security, compliance, and data-handling requirements set by the ACIC. This includes ongoing reviews, data quality assessments, and regular audits throughout the life of the accreditation.

The ACIC maintains a public register of all accredited bodies at acic.gov.au/accredited-bodies. Worker Checks Pty Ltd is listed there as an accredited body authorised to provide checks directly to members of the public and other organisations.

9. How long is a police check valid?

Because criminal history can change at any time, a police check cannot be “ongoing”. A new offence recorded after your certificate was issued will not appear on your existing check — you would need to apply for a new one.

Worker Checks displays your certificate in your secure portal for 3 months from the date of issue. After that, it is removed from the system in accordance with ACIC data-handling requirements. You should download your PDF certificate within that window.

10. Why police checks get delayed

Approximately 20% of police check applications are flagged for manual review. This is not caused by the provider you use — it is handled entirely by state and territory police agencies and the ACIC. Common reasons include:

• Common name matches — the system finds a potential match that needs human verification
• Multiple name changes — marriage, deed poll, or cultural naming conventions
• Addresses across multiple states — triggers cross-jurisdictional checks
• Existing disclosable court outcomes — a police agency needs to verify what is disclosable for your check purpose
• Incomplete or unclear identity documents — blurry photos, expired documents, or mismatched names

No accredited provider can expedite a manual review. If your check is delayed, the best course of action is to wait and check your portal for updates. For more information, see Reasons a Police Check is Delayed.

11. Police checks for businesses and employers

If you process police checks for multiple workers — whether staff, contractors, or volunteers — a business screening portal saves significant time and administrative effort. Worker Checks offers BusinessHub, a free workforce screening platform with:

• Bulk worker onboarding — upload and invite workers in batches
• Employer-pay or worker-pay billing — choose who covers the cost
• Monthly account billing for high-volume organisations
• Real-time compliance dashboard — see check status, expiry dates, and non-compliance alerts
• Police Checks, VEVO, WWCC, NDIS Worker Screening — tracked in one place
• Custom branding on worker invitations and correspondence
• Automated expiry reminders

BusinessHub is free — there is no subscription fee or setup cost. You only pay per check at standard pricing ($49 employment / $21 volunteer, inc. GST).

12. Frequently Asked Questions