Science and Technology Industry Background Checks in Australia

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) provides nationally coordinated criminal history checks to people working in Australia's science and technology industry.

Check timeframes: 70 percent of the checks are returned to applicants within 24 hours. Results are emailed on the same day they are received. Approximately 30 percent of checks may be referred to one or more police agencies and can take longer than 15 business days or more to be returned, due to the manual nature of this process.

Do you work in HR in an Australian science and technology company and need background checks for workers? Australian National Character Check (ANCC) provides a streamlined solution for nationally coordinated criminal history checks via our business portal.

Please apply for your nationally coordinated criminal history check via the individual portal here.

If the purpose of the check is for employment, individual applicants should select the “Employment” check category on their application form. If the purpose of the check is for licensing, please select the “Licensing” check category on the application form.

Businesses (science and technology industry) seeking bulk background checks can apply for access to the ANCC Business Portal.

Welcome to Australia's science and technology world, where innovation and progress never stop. As this industry continues to evolve, so does the need for a safe and secure workplace. That's why background checks have become an essential part of the industry, helping to ensure that those working in science and technology are trustworthy and responsible.

Whether you're a scientist, engineer, IT professional, or any other kind of science and technology worker, it's crucial to have a background check done to safeguard your business, colleagues, and clients. A background check can provide peace of mind to your employer, clients, and co-workers, assuring them that you have a spotless record and are trustworthy.

At Australian National Character Check (ANCC), we are here to help you obtain a background check in Australia. This web page provides the wealth of information and resources you need to get a background check quickly and easily, so you can focus on your work and contribute to Australia's exciting world of science and technology. Let's get right into it.

A background check is a process of verifying an individual's criminal history. It is also called a background check or nationally coordinated criminal history check (NCHCC) in Australia. It involves a search of the police databases for any records of the person's past criminal convictions, charges, or pending court cases.

Workers in the science and technology industry undergo background checks to ensure they are trustworthy and do not pose a risk to the workplace or public safety. This is because the science and technology industry deals with sensitive information, technology, and research that may have national security implications or be of high commercial value.

As such, employers in the science and technology industry have a duty of care to ensure that their employees are of good character and have not engaged in criminal activities that could jeopardise the integrity of the workplace or the projects they are working on. For example, employees with access to confidential information, intellectual property, or sensitive research may be vulnerable to exploitation or misuse, leading to reputational damage, legal issues, or financial losses for the employer.

In addition, some roles in the science and technology industry may require security clearances or certifications, which may involve a background check or other background checks. For instance, employees working in defence or national security-related projects may require a security clearance that involves an extensive background check, including a background check.

Overall, background checks are a standard part of the employment process in the science and technology industry to ensure that the workplace is secure and trustworthy. By conducting background checks, employers can mitigate potential risks and protect their employees, clients, and projects from harm.

Here are the steps for obtaining a background check for the science and technology industry in Australia:

You can apply for a background check by filling out a form with essential information like your name, address, date of birth, and the check's purpose. You will also have to upload three critical identity documents, including:

• ✔ One commencement of ID document
• ✔ One primary use in community document
• ✔ One secondary use in community documents

You must also pay an application fee which depends on your background check provider.

After applying for a background check, the check provider examines your application details and documents to ensure their validity.

The system runs a name-matching algorithm to pull out a criminal record based on the applicant's details. If it doesn't find a match, the system instantly returns a 'no disclosable court outcome (NDCO)'. However, if the system encounters a potential match, it sends it to manual verification. They ensure that the criminal records belong to the applicant before applying the spent conviction legislation to determine which records are 'unspent'. Only unspent criminal offences are returned to the background check provider to be included in the check result.

You will get a notification once the background check provider receives your result.

In the science and technology industry, employees who work with sensitive information, technology, or research may require a background check. This may include scientists, engineers, IT professionals, researchers, and other roles with access to confidential or sensitive data.

Background check processing takes between 1 day (for NDCOs) to 15 days (for applicants with a potential criminal record that needs manual verification).

Informed consent is a legal requirement that employers inform applicants of how the background check result will be used before seeking permission to conduct one from applicants.

While background checks do not technically expire, organisations and companies set acceptable timeframes based on their operational requirements and risk assessments.

ANCC is reputable for providing background check services to individuals and businesses across diverse industries. Our service is efficient, affordable, and reliable. Check out our portals today:

Individuals seeking employment in the science and technology industry can now rely on ANCC's efficient portal to order and track their background check applications in real time. We promptly process all applicants, ensuring you get your check result in the shortest possible time.

Hiring managers in the science and technology industry can streamline their background-checking process for employees and applicants through ANCC's novel business portal. Opening an ANCC business account helps you seamlessly order, track, and manage multiple background check applications in real time.