Police Checks For Employment - Australian National Character Check

Australian National Character Check™ is an accredited agency that issues applicants with their government authorised Police Check used for employment, licensing or industry accreditation. We provide applicants with their official Police Checks via our simple online application process.

Page Contents

1. Start a new Police check for employment, licensing or industry accreditations
2. What is a Police Check?
3. What offences are disclosed on a Police Check?
4. What is not shown on a Police Check Certificate?
5. How long is a Police Check certificate valid?
6. In Which Industries is a Police Check Vital?
7. Why do most companies and organisations require a Police Check?
8. Police Checks for Businesses and workplaces?

What is a Police Check?

Police Checks lists all an individual’s disclosable court outcomes (DCOs), pending charges and related offences sourced from the Australian police agencies database. Police Checks are requested by industries and organisations before offering employment, giving out contracts licenses or accreditations in Australia.

Police Checks in Australia are also known by the following generic terms:

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
National Criminal Check
National Crime Check
Police Check
National Police History Check
National Criminal History Check
Police Clearance Certificate

What offences are disclosed on a Police Check?

Police clearance certificates list all the disclosable court outcomes (DCOs) about an individual such as convictions, sentences and pending charges across the country. Some of these convictions are;

All guilty findings, behaviour bonds, community-based orders and suspended sentences.
Traffic infringements like; drink/drug driving, over speeding and others which lead to convictions.

What is not shown on a Police Check Certificate?

Spent convictions are expunged from an individual's police criminal history depending on the states. There are legislations in Australian states that limit the disclosure of certain 'older' offences once a period has elapsed. This is known as the spent convictions scheme. This period is also known as the 'waiting-time' or 'crime-free period.' Examples of such offences are;

Convictions older than ten (10) years for offences committed by an adult
Convictions older than five (5) years (3 years for NSW) for offences committed by a child.

Offences not eligible as ‘spent convictions’ include;

Convictions for sexually related offences
Convictions against corporate organizations and institutions
Convictions stated by the regulations
Convictions for which a prison sentence of more than six months is imposed

How long is a Police Check certificate valid?

Police Checks are requested by a third authority, which makes the validity of Police Check at the discretion of the requesting authority. A Police Check is a "point in time check" which means it does not have a set date of expiration. Most companies/organisations inform the individual/staff when to provide updated versions of the Police Check according to their internal risk mitigation strategy.

In Which Industries is a Police Check Vital?

Police Checks are a prerequisite for some professions before granting employment, contract, licensing or industry accreditations. The industries include but are not limited to:

Healthcare professionals
Aged care workers for the requirements of the aged care act 1997.
Childcare
Tutors
Correctional staff
Mining workers
Government Personnel
Financial Service workers
Legal workers
Liquor sellers
Pawnbrokers
Real Estate agents
Construction workers and contractors
Public vehicle drivers
Vehicle dealers
And any other profession that grants the personnel direct or indirect access to sensitive positions or positions of trust.

Why do most companies and organisations require a Police Check?

Security of the workplace and customers

Industries need prospective employees or contractors to undergo a national police check to reduce risk to their workplace and protect their customers.
Satisfy Hiring Requirements

There are certain rules some industries must comply with during recruitments. These rules and requirements by legislation are meant to ensure the safety of public properties and funds. A Police Check is in line with a number of employment, Licensing and accreditations requirements.

Police Checks for Businesses and workplaces?

Australian National Character Check helps companies and organisations to make informed decisions about individuals during employment, licensing and accreditation by issuing applicants with their credible police checks. Applicants can complete the police check application online with their laptops, mobile phones or tablets in the following steps;

Step 1: Register and complete the online police check application form.

Step 2: Upload your identification documents with the necessary verification.

Step 3: Receive the police check certificate directly via email. Majority of the checks are dispatched within 24 hours.

We issue most applicants with their Police Checks within 24 hours. Issuance of the certificate may take longer if the application gets flagged for manual review by Australian police agencies.

Australian National Character Check encourages people applying for roles to be undeterred by a police check certificate. Employers are bound by the law (in most states) not to be discriminatory when considering a person's police clearance certificate.Australian National Character Check encourages people applying for roles to be undeterred by a police check certificate. Employers are bound by the law (in most states) not to be discriminatory when considering a person's police clearance certificate.

Police Checks for Employment,Licensing or Industry Accreditations