It can be scary if you have to complete an Australian background check for a job such as a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. What does it mean? More importantly, what does it show?
We’re in the business of Australian background checks and, through our B2B service and InterCheck Australia, help our clients run them everyday. However, we know you might have questions if you’ve had a great interview, HR contacted your references, and now you’ve got a conditional offer that hinges on a check.
In this blog post, our background screening experts answer questions about why you might need an Australian background check for a job and what happens during the process.
What’s an Australian Background Check
A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCHCC), sometimes called a police check or a criminal background check, is a process where law enforcement authorities or an Accredited Body (like our wholly owned subsidiary InterCheck Australia) examines a person’s criminal history to determine if they have any prior convictions or pending criminal cases. When it comes to work, the purpose of an NCHCC is to assess your suitability for a role.
Over 90% of employers complete background checks as part of the hiring or onboarding process. This means, when you get to the background check process, the employer likely sees you as a strong candidate and are performing their last piece of due diligence.
Though there are some roles you may not qualify for, there are plenty of industries and positions that will employ someone with a criminal history. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, an employer can only reject an applicant based on their criminal history “if the person’s criminal record means that he or she is unable to perform the ‘inherent requirements’ of the particular job.”
What Happens During an Australian Background Check for a Job
In Australia, checks are processed by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and the Australian Federal Police, in partnership with Australian state and territory police agencies. Certn’s wholly owned subsidiary InterCheck Australia is also accredited to provide these special background checks.
ACIC police checks are most commonly used for employment, so that’s the process we’ll cover below.
There are four steps to an online ACIC police check:
- Purchase the police check
- Verify your email address
- Provide your personal information and identity documents
- Receive your results
After you upload your information and verify your email address, we run your name against existing Australian police records to identify disclosable criminal history such as:
- Court convictions
- Court appearances
- Pending court matters
- Charges
- Findings of guilt without conviction
- Traffic offences
- Good behaviour bonds
You receive your digital results and official certificate by email. It’s important to mention that all our online background checks, including an NCHCC, are conducted with your consent and are subject to privacy and data protection regulations.
Australian Background Check FAQs
You’ve got questions about an Australian background check for a job, and we’ve got answers.
What if I’ve already done an Australian background check for a job before?
An NCHCC check is considered a “point-in-time” check. As part of being thorough, a new employer may want to ensure your information is up to date.
How long does it take to get my results?
70% of results are returned in 1-2 business days. The remaining 30% take 3-12 business days or longer in some cases.
How long are ACIC background check results valid?
According to the ACIC, “There is no standard timeframe that a check result is valid for. A check is considered a ‘point in time’ check only, which means the results only reflect police records on the date and time the result is released.”
Certn’s Online Background Checks
Our online process makes it easier to submit the necessary information. Our NCHCC service also includes several validation steps to help ensure that all of the information that the ACIC needs to process your check is collected to minimise the chance of errors that can cause delays. Simply enter your personal information, pay using our secure checkout, and you’ll have your certified results by email. InterCheck Australia follows ACIC guidelines, so you can be confident your information is safe.
Request a demo if you’re looking to run background checks on candidates, employees, or tenants. We work with businesses of all sizes.
