How to Get a Police Check in Australia

There are a range of reasons to get a police check in Australia and they are important documents which facilitate the Governments, Business and Institutions. But the path to obtaining one can be tricky, this article has teased out the some of the main methods.  

Types of Police Checks

•  Criminal Records (Relevant to state or territory police services)
•  National Police Checks (a.k.a. Criminal History Checks - provided by The Australian Federal Police (AFP)
  • There are three sub-set types of National Police Certificates. 
    • 1.  A 'Name Only'  Police Certificate - based on a search of the person's name against the  criminal history records held by police services Australia-wide. 
    • 2.  A 'Name with Fingerprints'  Police Certificate - based on a search of the person's name and  fingerprints against the criminal history and fingerprint records held  by the police services Australia-wide. 
    • 3. A 'Name Only' with ASIO Security Assessment - Ammonium Nitrate Police Certificate.

In addition to these primary police checks there are two alternative role specific police checks which operate at the state level:

1. Working with Children Police Check
2. Police Check for Aged Care Workers

These like state level criminal history checks, they have respective  websites dealing with these issues. 

To Actually get the Police Check Certificate there are 2 Main Methods:

1) Direct from the Authority

Depending on whether you are in New South Wales, Victoria or any other state each State authority issues state-based background checks. You will need to check with your employers or specific needs as to weather you need a State based criminal record check or whether you require an Australian Federal Police Background (criminal history) Check.  This is the first step you need to identify. 

• Australian National Police Checks: https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks
• ACT: https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks
• New South Wales: http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/structure/specialist_operations/forensic_services/criminal_records_section
• Northern Territory: http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Police/Community-safety/SAFE-NT.aspx
• Queensland: https://www.police.qld.gov.au/corporatedocs/purchase/Police-Certificate-%28Australia-Wide-Criminal-History%29.htm
• South Australia: https://www.police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/apply-for-a-police-record-check
• Tasmania: http://www.police.tas.gov.au/services-online/police-history-record-checks/
• Victoria: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
• Western Australia: https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Police-Direct/National-Police-Certificates

All of the above police check are possible to achieve although you may have to pursue in-person submitting documents, faxing documents that you have printed and signed.  

2) 3rd Party Providers

In recent times the National Authorities have been allowing 3rd party providers to undergo certification to provide these services to the public. The consequence in the process is quicker and wholly online. These types of services tend to provide police checks on the National Level.   

• https://www.nationalcrimecheck.com.au/
• https://www.veritascheck.com.au/