80% of NCCHCs ordered through Worker Checks are returned within 1–3 minutes during business hours — provided there are no name matches requiring manual review by ACIC. Checks referred for manual review by police can take longer, sometimes several weeks.
All ACIC-accredited providers — including Worker Checks — connect directly to the same national criminal history database operated by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). This means no provider can guarantee a faster result than any other; turnaround time is determined by the ACIC system, not the provider.
Worker Checks is an ACIC-accredited provider of national police checks (NCCHCs) with direct NSS API access, and 80% of checks are returned within 1–3 minutes for applicants with no name matches in the national database.
There are two possible outcomes when ACIC processes your check:
A “name match” does not mean you have a criminal record — it simply means your name (or a similar name) appears somewhere in the national database. Approximately 20% of all NCCHCs are referred for manual review for this reason.
| Check type | Typical turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Standard NCCHC (employment) | 1–3 min (automatic) Longer, sometimes several weeks (manual review) |
Fast |
| Volunteer NCCHC | 1–3 min (automatic) Longer, sometimes several weeks (manual review) |
Fast |
| NDIS Worker Screening Check | 6–8 weeks (state-run; not processed by ACIC) | Longer |
| International Police Check | Typically 5–15 business days (varies by country) | Varies |
While you cannot speed up ACIC’s processing, you can avoid delays on your end by following these steps when submitting your check through Worker Checks:
Worker Checks uses biometric identity verification — no post office visit required. Completing IDV online removes a common source of delays.
Discrepancies between your submitted name and your ID documents are the most common cause of preventable delays. Use your full legal name, including middle names if requested.
ACIC processes checks during standard Australian business hours. Checks submitted in the evening or on weekends are queued and begin processing the next business day.
Worker Checks may email you if additional information or consent is required. Responding promptly keeps your application moving.
No. Because all ACIC-accredited providers connect to the same national database, no provider can offer a guaranteed express service that bypasses the ACIC queue. Any provider advertising a “guaranteed 1-hour result” is referring to the typical automatic result time — which applies only when no manual review is required.
Worker Checks does not charge express fees for this reason. You pay a flat rate and receive your result as soon as ACIC processes it.
Employment NCCHC — $52.00 |
Volunteer NCCHC — $21.00
No hidden fees. No express surcharges. Results delivered to your email and your secure portal.
Once ACIC returns your result, Worker Checks will:
If you ordered on behalf of a worker through BusinessHub, both you and the worker will be notified when the result is ready.
If your check has been processing for more than 5–10 minutes during business hours, it has likely been referred for manual review by ACIC. This is normal and affects approximately 20% of applications. You do not need to resubmit. Manual reviews can take longer, sometimes several weeks. If you have any questions while you wait, please contact our team via the Help Hub chat.
It can. If your name is shared by others in the national database, ACIC may refer your check for manual review to confirm your identity. Providing accurate middle names and ensuring your ID documents match your submission exactly can help ACIC identify you more quickly.
Worker Checks holds direct NSS API accreditation with ACIC — meaning your application is submitted directly to the national database with no intermediary step. This is the fastest possible submission method available to any ACIC-accredited provider. Once submitted, all providers receive results on the same timeline, as it is determined entirely by ACIC.
Yes — your Worker Checks certificate can be shared with multiple employers via a secure verification link. However, many employers require a check to be issued within a specific timeframe (commonly 3–12 months). Check with your employer before reusing an existing certificate.
Yes — a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) is the official ACIC term for what is commonly known as a “national police check.” The two terms refer to the same product. Worker Checks uses the official ACIC terminology across all our products and communications, but if an employer, recruiter, or volunteer organisation asks you to obtain a national police check, an NCCHC ordered through Worker Checks fully satisfies that requirement.
You may also see the terms “police check,” “criminal history check,” or “background check” used informally — these typically all refer to the same NCCHC product issued through ACIC-accredited providers like Worker Checks.