The image provides an overview of disclosable court outcomes that may appear on a police check report. It includes examples such as criminal convictions, court-imposed penalties, and findings of guilt without conviction. The visual is designed to help individuals and employers understand what types of legal outcomes are reported and how they may affect employment or licensing decisions. It emphasizes transparency, legal clarity, and the importance of accurate background screening.

Disclosable Court Outcomes on a police check?

Byworkerchecks

Disclosable Court Outcomes on a Police Check – What Are They?

Last Updated: February 2026

When you apply for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (formerly National Police Check), understanding what appears on your certificate is crucial for employment, volunteering, and licensing purposes.

What Are Disclosable Court Outcomes?

Your police check will show one of two results:

  • ✅ Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCOs) – Criminal history found
  • ✅ No Disclosable Court Outcomes (NDCOs) – Clean record

What Appears on Your Police Check:

Your certificate shows DCOs from all Australian states and territories, including:

  • Recorded convictions (where court recorded a conviction)
  • Findings of guilt without conviction (Section 10 dismissals, good behaviour bonds)
  • Pending charges (in most states – see exceptions below)
  • Sexually-related offences
  • Traffic offences with court convictions (DUI, dangerous driving)
  • Assault-related convictions
  • All sentences and court outcomes

Important: Only court convictions appear. Standard traffic fines paid on time do NOT show up.

Spent Convictions – State-by-State Rules

Spent convictions are older, minor offences that no longer appear on your police check after meeting specific criteria. However, the rules vary significantly by state.

For a comprehensive breakdown of every state and territory’s spent convictions legislation, see our complete guide: What Shows Up on a Police Check in Australia?

Quick Reference Table:

State/Territory Adults Juveniles Cannot Become Spent
NSW 10 years 3 years (Children’s Court) Prison >6 months, sexual offences, corporate offences
VIC 10 years (if 21+ at sentencing) 5 years (if 15-20 at sentencing) Prison >30 months, serious violence/sexual with any prison
QLD Supreme/District: 10 years
Magistrates: 5 years		 5 years Prison >30 months, corporate offences
SA 10 years 5 years Adults: prison >12 months
Juveniles: prison >24 months
WA 10 years + imprisonment term Same as adults Prison >12 months requires court application
TAS 10 years 5 years Prison >6 months, sexual offences
NT 10 years 5 years Prison >6 months
ACT 10 years 5 years Prison >6 months
Commonwealth 10 years 5 years Prison >30 months

State-Specific Details

New South Wales (NSW)

Legislation: Criminal Records Act 1991 (NSW)

Waiting periods:

  • Adults: 10 consecutive years
  • Children’s Court: 3 consecutive years (unique to NSW)

Cannot become spent:

  • Prison sentence over 6 months (excludes home detention)
  • Sexual offences
  • Corporate offences

Immediately spent:

  • Section 10 dismissals (no conviction recorded)
  • Children’s Court cautions

Victoria (VIC)

Legislation: Spent Convictions Act 2021 (VIC) – commenced 1 December 2021

Important: Victoria NOW has spent convictions legislation (since December 2021). Previous information stating “no spent convictions shown” is outdated.

Conviction periods:

  • Aged 15-20 years at sentencing: 5 years
  • Aged 21+ years at sentencing: 10 years
  • Aged under 15 at offending: immediately spent

Cannot become spent:

  • Prison sentence over 30 months (2.5 years)
  • Serious violence/sexual offences with any prison term (if aged 21+ at sentencing)

Pending charges: Do NOT appear on standard employment checks (changed December 2021)

Queensland (QLD)

Legislation: Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986 (QLD)

Rehabilitation periods:

  • Supreme Court/District Court (adult): 10 years
  • All other cases (including juveniles): 5 years

Cannot become spent:

  • Prison sentence over 30 months (including wholly suspended sentences)
  • Corporate offences

South Australia (SA)

Legislation: Spent Convictions Act 2009 (SA)

Qualification periods:

  • Adults: 10 consecutive years
  • Juveniles: 5 consecutive years

Cannot become spent:

  • Adults: prison over 12 months
  • Juveniles: prison over 24 months

Special: Sex offences require magistrate’s order to be spent

Western Australia (WA)

Legislation: Spent Convictions Act 1988 (WA)

WA is unique: Serious convictions do NOT become spent automatically.

Lesser convictions (automatic):

  • 10 years PLUS any imprisonment term served
  • “Lesser conviction” = imprisonment 12 months or less OR fine under $15,000

Serious convictions:

  • Require District Court application
  • Granted at court’s discretion

Tasmania (TAS)

Legislation: Annulled Convictions Act 2003 (TAS)

Good behaviour periods:

  • Adults: 10 years
  • Under 18: 5 years

Cannot be annulled:

  • Prison/detention 6+ months
  • Sexual offences

Northern Territory (NT)

Legislation: Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) Act 1992 (NT)

Waiting periods:

  • Adults: 10 years from conviction (or 10 years after imprisonment ends)
  • Youth Justice Court: 5 years
  • Children in adult court: 5 years (requires Police Commissioner application)

Cannot become spent:

  • Prison sentence over 6 months

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Legislation: Spent Convictions Act 2000 (ACT)

Waiting periods:

  • Adults: 10 years
  • Juveniles: 5 years

Cannot become spent:

  • Prison sentence over 6 months

Commonwealth Offences

Legislation: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Part VIIC

Applies to: Drug importation, fraud against Commonwealth, immigration offences

Waiting periods:

  • Adults: 10 years from conviction
  • Juveniles: 5 years from conviction

Cannot become spent:

  • Prison sentence over 30 months

When Spent Convictions ARE Still Disclosed

Even if technically “spent,” convictions WILL appear on your police check for:

🚨 Working with children:

  • Teachers, childcare workers, school support staff

🚨 Working with vulnerable people:

  • Aged care workers, NDIS support, disability support, healthcare

🚨 Law enforcement and security:

  • Police officers, prison officers, security guards (some roles)

🚨 Regulated professions:

  • Lawyers, doctors/nurses, financial advisors, real estate agents

Why? Public safety exemptions override spent convictions legislation.

Pending Charges on Police Checks

State/Territory Pending Charges Shown?
NSW Yes
VIC No (changed Dec 2021)
QLD Yes
SA Yes
WA Yes
TAS Yes
NT Yes
ACT Yes

Important: Pending charges are NOT convictions. Employers cannot automatically reject candidates based on unproven allegations.

What DOESN’T Appear on Your Police Check

  • ❌ Charges withdrawn or dismissed
  • ❌ Acquittals (found not guilty)
  • ❌ Spent convictions (in most circumstances)
  • ❌ Traffic fines paid on time (speeding tickets, parking fines)
  • ❌ Juvenile diversions without court
  • ❌ Overseas convictions
  • ❌ Punitive measures by third-party institutions (workplace disciplinary action)
  • ❌ Diversion programs (completed successfully)

Where Are DCOs Sourced From?

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check searches databases from ALL Australian states and territories.

Example: A conviction in Brisbane (2018) WILL appear on a police check when applying for work in Melbourne.

Important: The spent convictions rules of the convicting state apply, not where you currently live.

Police Check Validity

Point-in-time check: Your certificate shows your criminal history status on the date issued.

No expiry date: ACIC doesn’t set expiry dates.

Industry standards:

  • Most organisations require checks within 3 months
  • Aged care sector: often renewed every 3 months
  • Your Worker Checks portal certificate available for viewing/printing for 3 months after issue

Best practice: Apply for updated check when:

  • Applying for new roles
  • Previous check over 3 months old
  • Convicted of new offence

Consent to Release Process (DCO Results)

If your check contains a DCO:

Worker Checks will NOT share your result without your consent.

You receive:

  1. Text message + email when result is available
  2. Instructions to consent to release (or not)
  3. Instructions to dispute if inaccurate

Timeline:

  • You have 7 days to approve or decline release
  • If no response after 7 days, result automatically released to requesting party (if you agreed during application)

Who Can Apply for a Police Check?

Anyone can apply for their own police check, even if not required by an employer.

Benefits of knowing your DCOs:

  • Understand what employers will see
  • Identify errors early
  • Plan for disclosure conversations
  • Determine if convictions are spent

How Long Does Processing Take?

Through Worker Checks:

  • 75% completed within 60 minutes (ACIC-accredited)
  • 25% require manual review: 2-15 business days
  • 100% online process – complete from phone, tablet, or computer

Need Your Police Check?

✅ ACIC-accredited provider – official Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks
✅ 60-minute results – fastest turnaround in Australia
✅ $49 pricing – cheaper than government rates ($56)
✅ 100% online – complete from your phone
✅ Expert support – Australian team helps resolve errors

Apply for your police check now →

Related Resources:

Sources: Criminal Records Act 1991 (NSW), Spent Convictions Act 2021 (VIC), Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986 (QLD), Spent Convictions Act 2009 (SA), Spent Convictions Act 1988 (WA), Annulled Convictions Act 2003 (TAS), Criminal Records (Spent Convictions) Act 1992 (NT), Spent Convictions Act 2000 (ACT), Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Part VIIC

Similar Posts