Bus driver police checks in Australia

Bus drivers in Australia operate buses for various purposes, including public transportation, school buses and charter services. They ensure the safety and comfort of passengers, follow schedules and routes, collect fares and perform pre-trip vehicle inspections.

Working conditions for bus drivers in Australia can vary depending on the type of service they provide. For example, public transportation drivers may work split shifts, evenings, weekends, and public holidays, while school bus drivers may work during school hours. Bus driving can be physically demanding and require high alertness and concentration, especially in heavy traffic. Overall, bus driving can be a rewarding career for individuals who enjoy driving, working with the public, and contributing to the safe transportation of passengers.

To become a bus driver in Australia, individuals typically need to have a valid driver's licence and complete relevant training and certifications. Bus drivers may also undergo police checks (also called background checks) and regular medical assessments to maintain their licences.

A police check, formally known as a nationally coordinated criminal history check, is a process where a person's disclosable criminal history is verified by obtaining information from police databases. This information is used to determine if the person has a disclosable criminal record and if so, what the criminal record contains if it is relevant to the purpose of the check.

Bus drivers undergo police checks to verify their criminal history and ensure the safety and security of passengers and the public. The primary reasons for conducting these checks may include the following:

• Public safety: Bus driving is a position of trust and responsibility, as drivers are responsible for transporting passengers from one place to another. By conducting background checks, bus companies and other organisations can try to ensure that their drivers do not have a history of criminal behaviour that would risk public safety.
• Trust: Bus drivers interact with various passengers, including children and vulnerable populations. By conducting police checks, employers can help build confidence in the bus transportation industry and ensure that passengers feel safe and secure while riding.
• Compliance with regulations: It may be a legal requirement in some states or territories for public vehicle drivers to undergo background checks and ensure they do not have a disqualifying offence.
• Pre-employment screening: Police checks are often part of the pre-employment screening process for bus drivers. This allows decision makers to make informed hiring decisions.

The ACIC works with police agencies and accredited bodies to make police checking services accessible.

Here are the steps to getting a police check:

You can apply for a police check via an accredited body or a police agency. You'll have to fill out an online form with your details. You'll also need to upload four identification documents as part of the process. These documents include the following:

• ✔ One commencement of ID document
• ✔ One primary use in community document
• ✔ Two secondary use in community documents
• ✔ A biometric link that links the applicant to the claimed identity

The application fee will vary depending on the provider you're using.

A background check can be obtained from within any state or territory. This includes a police check in Tasmania or anywhere else within Australia.

After applying, your provider will review your application details and identification documents to ensure their validity. After that, they send your details to the National Police Checking Service.

This system runs a name-matching algorithm to find potential criminal records based on the applicant's details. If it doesn't find any criminal record, the system instantly returns a 'no disclosable court outcome (NDCO)'. If it does find one, it sends it to the relevant police agencies for manual processing.

Here, the police agencies confirm that the criminal record belongs to the applicant. If that's the case, the police agencies apply the spent conviction scheme and information release policies to determine which criminal records can be released on the result.

Your background check provider will generally notify you once the check result is available.

70% of checks are returned within 24 hours. Approximately 30% of checks will be referred to one or more police agencies and may take longer than 15 days.

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) charges $52.90 + GST (base cost) per check.

While police checks do not technically expire, organisations set acceptable timeframes based on operational requirements and risk assessment.

Whether you're a bus driver or an HR manager in a transport company, ANCC provides world-class services that meet requirements.

ANCC's portal makes it easy for aspiring and current bus drivers to order efficient police checks. All you need to do is fill out the online application form.

HR managers in transport companies can use ANCC's business portal to manage bulk background checks for applicants. Our portals make it easy to order, track, monitor and compare multiple police check results for applicants in real time, giving you the information you need to make good hiring decisions.