Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks: When Do You Need One?

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Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks are important tools used by individuals and corporations alike to safeguard communities and working environments. Governments even use them to ensure that they have trusted people on board. However, there are still moments when individuals and starting businesses, especially those that do not know the purpose of Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks, still get confused on whether the checks are needed or not.

If you find yourself in this confusing position, worry not.

Here we have a definitive guide on when Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks are absolutely needed. These include situations when presenting a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is non-negotiable. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will have a better idea of when to prepare for the police check and why it is an essential requirement in such situations.

There are two perspectives that we have to consider when it comes to Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks – as an individual and as a corporation. Whichever side of the coin you find yourself in, it will tremendously help to take note of the following scenarios.

As a private individual, you may need police checks when:

Applying for certain jobs.

Highly specialised jobs include those that work with “vulnerable” populations such as aged care, childcare, and even pet care. Facilities that fall under those sectors rarely employ people based on resume alone. Not even an impressive work history can urge them to skip the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

They go to lengths just to ensure that the people they hire have a clean criminal background. By doing so, they can safeguard their reputation in their respective industry as well as the welfare of their residents or care recipients.

Other jobs that require Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks are those that need police checks for licensing, registration or accreditation. These include people who work as real estate agents, nurses, and many others. Occupation-related licensing and registration is another way to ensure the safety of people they work with. Without Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks, anyone with a criminal history can slip past that standard and endanger their clients and other people.

For Industry Accreditations or Registrations

Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks are also necessary for a number of industry based accreditations and registrations. The purpose of these is to check if the applicant is of suitable character for the job roles that they will be carrying out with the Australian public. Police checks for licensing, industry accreditation or registrations are common amongst professions like public vehicle drivers or persons that may be placed within a position of trust, or with the vulnerable.

If you have contact with children as part of your workplace activities, some Australian jurisdictions may require you to obtain a working with children check (or equivalent). Be sure to check the requirements.

Processing overseas employment.

In the same vein, overseas employment also has very strict requirements mostly for security purposes. Whatever job you wish to apply in, Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks will almost always be required given that the job you are applying for is in another country. Working as a foreigner can be tough, but once you have presented your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, then things should be more smooth-sailing. It is important to note that a police check for the purpose of overseas employment can only be obtained from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Processing your immigration.

On the other hand, if you are a non-native who wishes to live in Australia permanently, the Department of Home Affairs may need you to present an equivalent of a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check from your origin country. You are also required to take one from the country that you are migrating to (Australia). It is important to note that a police check for the purpose of visa or immigration must be obtained from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Adopting a child.

Another scenario that requires national crime checks is when you wish to adopt a child. In Australia, specifically, orphanages are mandated by law to conduct their own due diligence on prospective parents. Thankfully, discriminatory regulations have since been lifted such as being unable to adopt a child if you are a single parent and whatnot.

The only important thing for these adoption institutions is to find a good home and family for the orphans living under them. Understandably, having an extensive criminal record might prove disadvantageous when it comes to adopting children. A police check for the purpose of child adoption must be obtained from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

As a corporation, you may need police checks when:

Complying with pre-employment policies.

Companies have the responsibility of keeping their customers and their existing workforce safe from external threats. One possible entry of these external threats is in their very own employment process. See, when employment policies are too lax and flexible, applicants can just come on board the company without further screening.

By the time they have already damaged the company’s reputation, it would have already been too late. Before that happens, some organisations therefore have to take several precautionary measures in their employment process. This includes having a tiered employment approach and including national crime history checks in their requirements. Aged care organisations are an example of this and are required to comply with mandatory employment screening requirements.

In a nutshell: You’ll need it when it is required.

To summarise, Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks are helpful in situations where the public’s interests and safety are concerned. There may be situations when needing them might seem insubstantial. As long as it is required, just know that it is for the safety of the community as a whole.

How to get one?

If you need Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks today, you can obtain them ia the following methods:

• Your local Australian police station
• From the Australian Federal Police (AFP)
• An accredited agency like Australian National Character Check.

Australian National Character Check is one of the leading names when it comes to accurate and timely criminal history checks in the country. Whenever you need one, our service is available 7 days of the week.

Completing a police check application form is easy. Simply fill out the online form on the website, check for errors, and submit for fast processing. You can have your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check ready in one to three business days. Sometimes it takes even less than a day! In other cases, it may take longer if the application gets referred for manual processing which is beyond our control.

For speedy Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks, work with Australian National Character Check today.

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