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FAQs CrimCheck

Who pays for police checks: the employer or the employee?

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

Does an AVO appear on a police check?

Given that an AVO is not a criminal conviction, AVOs typically do not appear on regular police 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 police check go?

Police 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 police check in Victoria?

You can obtain a police check in Victoria online, by post or in person.

If you would like to obtain a police 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 police check certificate via email. This certificate is in PDF format to ensure it cannot be altered.

Is a national crime check the same as a police check?

Yes, a national crime 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 police 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 police 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 police check for employment?

When you are applying for a role requiring a police check, then ask that employer if they will cover the cost of the police 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 police check?

What does a police check show?

A police 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 police check will turn up an NDCO if you have no criminal history.

How long are police checks valid for?

In a technical sense, police 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 police check take?

A majority of police checks are processed within hours of e receiving your police 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 police check?

You may be wondering: what is a police 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 police 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 police check for a particular person, that person must first consent to the police 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 police check?

If you are thinking: how do I apply for a police 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 police 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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