Police Checks in Australia
Police Check For Employment
A police check in Australia is the common term for a nationally coordinated criminal history check (NCCHC) supplied by the National Police Checking Service.
There’s no faster way to get your police check for employment than here at CVCheck. We are a National Police Checking Service (NPCS) accredited agency, which means we meet strict criteria from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), including verified company legitimacy and certain security requirements.
Using a secure online service such as that offered by CVCheck enables you to easily organise criminal history and other background checks from your home or office. Results are then efficiently distributed electronically, providing you with instant access to your national police check online.
- Fast and 100% online
- Accurate information direct from the relevant authorities
- Trusted for employment purposes by government, licensing authorities and employers
Please note: National police checks in Australia cannot be used for Immigration, Visa or IVF applications.
For more info, please see our help page or contact us.
CVCheck, police agencies and ACIC work together, aiming to process 95% of national police checks within 10 business days, noting that:
- 70% of all police background checks are completed within 1 business day.
- 25% are completed within 10 business days as they’ve been referred to one or more police agencies because an individual’s name is similar to a person of interest.
- 5% may take 15 business days or more (depending on the complexity of the check). Additional information on delivery times can be found on the ACIC website.
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Police Checks - Australia
Who is CVCheck?
CVCheck is a leading provider of background checks and employment screening services in Australia and New Zealand, conducting more than 300,000 checks every year for individuals, small businesses, government departments and enterprise organisations.
So whether you’re a job seeker who needs a police check fast before starting a new job, a small business owner wanting to perform reliable pre-employment checks before your next hire, or a HR manager at an organisation who is looking for a trusted partner to assist with large-scale employee screening, CVCheck have you covered.
Australian Police Checks
Our secure online service means you can get a national police check for employment anywhere in Australia, no matter which state or territory you live in. Results are sent straight to your home or office electronically, giving you instant access to your national police clearance certificate online.
- Police Check in NSW
- Police Check in SA
- Police Check in VIC
- Police Check in ACT
- Police Check in QLD
- Police Check in TAS
- Police Check in WA
- Police Check in NT
CVCheck is accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to provide Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks, often referred to by employers as police checks in Australia, through the National Police Checking Service.
Police checks requested through CVCheck are issued by the National Police Checking Service – the same service used by state and territory police departments.
CVCheck’s result certificates list an individual’s disclosable court outcomes and pending charges sourced from the databases of all Australian police jurisdictions.
The Importance of Conducting Police Checks
Ensuring Workplace Safety
If you’re an employer, you have a legal duty of care to maintain a safe work environment. Nationally coordinated criminal history checks ensure that you to make a fully informed decision when hiring potential candidates. Whether you have particular requirements around any previous convictions or you are looking to create an opportunity for someone who needs support in starting a new life, the best hiring conversations start from shared honesty about the current situation.
Regulatory Compliance
Many Australian industries enforce mandatory compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Often, these requirements include a periodic police check as part of the employee licensing or accreditation process. This is particularly so for sensitive job roles that entail a certain level of trust or dealing with vulnerable persons. Some of the professions in Australia that require a police check include childcare workers, teachers, tutors, aged care workers, health workers and more.
Personal Peace of Mind
If you’re applying for a job, looking to rent a home, or volunteering in the community, a nationally coordinated criminal history check will give you peace of mind and a competitive edge amongst other candidates. Proactively obtaining your own police check demonstrates your trustworthiness and reliability to potential employers or organisations and can help to fast-track administrative processes that cannot be completed without a police check certificate.
Apply for Your National Police Check Online at CVCheck
In today’s society trustworthiness and regulatory compliance needs are a factor in most industries. CVCheck makes it easier to satisfy these requirements wherever you are.
At CVCheck, we remain committed to providing customers with online convenience and speed with trusted and secure ACIC-accredited police checks you can rely on. And since we’re directly connected to the national police checking system, most results are returned in less than one day!
If you have any questions, contact our helpful team or check out our FAQs below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a police check in Australia?
A police check or nationally coordinated criminal history check (NCCHC), is a document that lists an individual’s disclosable court outcomes and pending charges sourced from the databases of all Australian police jurisdictions.
Certain convictions, such as spent or juvenile convictions, may not be disclosed on a criminal history check in accordance with the legislation of the various police jurisdictions.
Why might someone need to obtain a police check?
A police check may be required for various purposes, such as employment, volunteer work, professional licensing, immigration, adoption, applying for a loan or renting a property. It assesses an individual’s criminal history to ensure they are suitable for their role or responsibility, focusing on public safety and security.
How does the police checking process work?
To order a police check, select “I need a police check on myself” or “I need a police check for employees” to place your order. We provide streamlined results directly from the national police checking service. If no disclosable criminal history is found, a certificate is issued indicating a clear record. Otherwise, details of any criminal records are included. We’ll notify you once your results are ready to be downloaded.
What information may NOT be disclosed on a police check for employment?
Certain convictions, such as a spent conviction or juvenile conviction are conditionally disclosed depending on the place and nature of employment and the legislation that applies from the jurisdiction where those records are listed.
How do I order a police check for employment?
A nationally coordinated criminal history check (NCCHC) in Australia can be ordered through bodies accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). CVCheck is accredited by ACIC to perform police checks online, so you can simply create an account with us, then order and pay for your NCCHC.
How long does a NCCHC for employment last?
A police check is a ‘point-in-time’ check and is current for employment as of the date of issue. This means that result certificate does not have any formal period of validity or an expiry date.
However, many employers and organisations only accept a police check that has been issued in the past 12 months.
What is the price of a police check for employment?
A nationally coordinated criminal history check in Australia costs $64.80 including GST.
How long does a police check for employment take?
The majority of police checks (nationally coordinated criminal history checks) are processed and the results returned within 1 business day.
However, approximately 30% of all police checks ordered within Australia are referred for manual processing. If this occurs, the result may take from 1 – 15, and in some instances more, business days to be returned.
Processing of nationally coordinated criminal history checks may take longer if the applicant shares similar details with other individuals recorded in police databases, particularly if they have a common name. It is therefore always recommended that applicants order their police check for employment at least 2 weeks before the certificate is required.
RENAE EDEY
Communications and Marketing Officer
Transformed our recruitment process
This used to be a time-consuming task with applicants coming to our office with their IDs and documentation. The Recruitment Officer would have to copy all their papers and check the right ID was provided for the police check. In some instances the candidate would end up needing more documents and they’d have to organise to come back. Now the whole recruitment process is automated. Our checks go through CVCheck which is integrated with our custom-built CRM system and the process of screening candidates is now streamlined and smooth.
A smarter way to get a check
* All turnaround times are estimated working times for Australian checks and are provided as a guide only. Turnaround times are based on our experience of the time taken for the majority of these checks to be delivered. However, CVCheck is reliant on third parties for supply of information, and in some cases those third parties may take longer to supply that information. Accordingly, CVCheck does not give any time guarantees for any checks or packages. It is CVCheck’s policy and practice to keep you informed as much as possible if there are any unusual delays. Read more about our delivery times here.