Police checks verified by DVS to support AGSVA requirements

The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) is the Australian Government’s central vetting agency. They conduct security clearance assessments for federal, state and territory government agencies.

Consequently, organisations seeking AGSVA clearances must apply through the AGSVA. As part of this process, AGSVA may require a police check verified by the Document Verification Services (DVS).

The Document Verification Service allows authorised personnel to confirm whether an applicant’s identification document is the same with the original record held by the issuing authority. Hence, this makes it possible for organisations to identify people that have used fake or altered documents in their applications.

DVS Gateway service providers provide a reliable platform to match various documents with their source. Examples include Australian birth certificates, citizenship certificates, medicare cards, Australian passports, visas, driver’s licences and more.

By requesting DVS-verified police checks, the result can be used as part of assessing an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance. That’s why AGSVA pre-screening requirements may involve police checks with identification documents verified with the Document Verification Service (DVS).

Police checks - formally referred to as nationally coordinated criminal history checks (NCCHC) - detail convictions and charges pending against an individual. Employers use them to make sound hiring decisions by assessing the risk posed by an applicant. Certification bodies and decision makers also use police checks to determine whether a candidate is suitable for a particular role.

The results provided on a check will outline whether the applicant has No Disclosable Court Outcomes (NDCO) or Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO):

• NDCO means there is:
• no police information held against the applicant
• no police information that can be released according to the purpose and category of the police check, and the application of relevant spent convictions legislations and/or information release policies.
• DCO means there is:
• police information that can be released.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) coordinates the national police checking service in Australia. They work with ACIC-accredited agencies and the Australian Police Forces to make obtaining a police check accessible.

ACIC-accredited agencies like Australian National Character Check (ANCC) offer efficient and reliable police check services. The application process involves filling out an online application form.

A DVS-verified police check means that the ID documents uploaded during the police check application process are matched against the DVS record as part of the identity-proofing process. Doing so ensures the applicant is who they claim to be.

ANCC utilises the DVS for identity proofing requirements. The ACIC also accredits us to submit nationally coordinated criminal history checks for individuals, meaning that you can obtain police checks verified by DVS from us. With our cloud-based management portal, organisations can facilitate the application and management of multiple DVS-verified police checks to support the AGSVA applications of their employees.

70% of results are available within one business day. The other 30% may be referred for manual processing and may take longer than 10 business days to be processed.

ANCC’s online application process is efficient. Individuals can promptly fill in the online application form and upload the necessary ID documents in minutes. Approved organisations can also manage the police checking process of multiple employees from our secure business portal. This makes it easy for approved Australian government agencies to view and access numerous police check results of their workers.

There is no set-up fee required for the business portal.

Since ANCC offers police checks that are DVS verified, it may assist your organisation to meet compliance requirements.