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FAQs CrimCheck

Who pays for Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks: the employer or the employee?

Most often, the employer pays for the cost of Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks. But this is not necessarily always the case. Certain organisations need their applicants to pay for their own Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks. So if you are applying for a job (or volunteer position), it is best to verify who covers the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check cost directly with that employer (or organisation). Please note that your informed consent is required for an employer to request a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check on you.

Does an AVO appear on a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

Given that an AVO is not a criminal conviction, AVOs typically do not appear on regular Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks for criminal history. However, if you are applying for positions where you would be working in law enforcement, with vulnerable people or with children, this information may be disclosed.

How far back does a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check go?

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks will release information subject to spent conviction legislation relevant to the state the offences were committed in, most states spend minor convictions after ten years has elapsed if no further offences are committed. Serious offences are not normally covered by spent convictions legislation.

How do I get a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in Victoria?

You can obtain a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in Victoria online, by post or in person.

If you would like to obtain a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check online, you will be required to:

  1. Meet specific identity needs
  2. Provide ID documents electronically
  3. Have access to a smartphone
  4. Be able to pay with a debit or credit card
  5. Have an email address

Once your application is submitted and your identity documents verified, you will be sent a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check certificate via email. This certificate is in PDF format to ensure it cannot be altered.

Is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check the same as a police check?

Yes, a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is the same as a national police check. They both refer to the same police records. These checks can also be referred to as police clearance and national clearance certificates.

Do spent convictions show on a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in Australia?

A spent conviction is a past criminal record that can not be used to refuse you access to housing or employment. Spent convictions may be shown on a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check in Australia when it is in the interest of public safety to disclose them.

You are not obliged to disclose spent convictions to an employer, an organisation with which you wish to volunteer or a Commonwealth authority unless there is a specific exclusion.

How do I get a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check for employment?

When you are applying for a role requiring a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, then ask that employer if they will cover the cost of the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, as this is frequently the case. The employer will advise the way in which this is done e.g. reimburse you for the cost you incurred, or some other way. For more details, please refer to the FAQ question below How do I apply for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

What does a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check show?

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check shows all disclosable court outcomes and criminal charges. This includes any pending court charges, findings of guilt, suspended sentences, convictions leading to served sentences, and all other criminal convictions that are not classed as spent convictions.

Criminal convictions include crimes such as drink-driving, speeding or shoplifting. Your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check will turn up an NDCO if you have no criminal history.

How long are Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks valid for?

In a technical sense, Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks do not have an expiry date. They are generally used as a current point-of-time criminal history check. In this sense, they are thought of as being current at the date of issue.

How long does a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check take?

A majority of Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks are processed within hours of receiving your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check application. Applications may be completed online or via post. Online applications generally take 30 minutes or less for you to do.

What is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

You may be wondering: what is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check? This is a background safety measure check that is available to businesses, companies and organisations seeking to hire employees or take on volunteers.

It is a request to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to check its database for any criminal records a person may have. A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check enables that organisation to determine if the person is suitable to carry out their duties in a specific environment. This is particularly relevant if the person would be regularly in contact with children or vulnerable people. It is especially relevant for the areas of childcare, education, medical and law enforcement.

When an organisation seeks to obtain a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check for a particular person, that person must first consent to the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and provide ID documents. After the documents have been verified and a fee has been paid (usually by the employer or organisation), a certificate is issued detailing any convictions.

How do I apply for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check?

If you are thinking: how do I apply for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check? The answer is simple with CrimCheck. You can receive a criminal history report for yourself for all Australian states, territories and federal jurisdictions

It is fast and easy to use CrimCheck to get your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. Simply contact us for a quick telephone call, and use our verification tools online to complete the application.

CrimCheck is fully accredited with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), making the process simple and fast. It is also not-for-profit, so you can be assured that CrimCheck’s low fees go straight back to the community.

 

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