Student placements in Australia are an essential part of learning and career preparation.

Whether you're training to be a healthcare worker or a community worker, student placements offer hands-on experience.

Many of these roles involve working with vulnerable groups or handling sensitive information. To help ensure safety and trust, Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks (NCCHCs) are often required for students before they begin their placements.

This guide will take you through most of the things you need to know about NCCHCs for student placements.

A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check is an official background check that is used to assess an individual's criminal record.

This check discloses releasable information from police databases across all Australian police jurisdictions. The check is often required for students entering placements in sectors where safety, ethics, and compliance are high priorities.

Protecting Vulnerable People

Many student placements, for example, those in healthcare, involve direct contact with people who rely on care. A Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check helps to ensure students entering these environments are suitable for the role.

Meeting Legal Requirements

Industries such as healthcare, education, and social work often have strict regulatory requirements.

Safeguarding Reputation

Educational institutions and placement organisations have a shared duty of care when placing persons in positions of trust.

Applying for a check with ANCC is a straightforward process, especially with the availability of ANCC's online platform.

Step 1: Confirm the placement requirements

Check with your educational institution or placement provider to ensure an NCCHC is required. Some placements may also require additional checks.

Step 2: Choose an Accredited Provider

ANCC is an accredited provider authorised by the federal government to process Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks.

Step 3: Complete the Online Application Form

Fill out the online application form via ANCC's platform.

Step 4: Provide Identification Documents

Submit valid identification documents as prompted by ANCC's system to verify your identity.

Step 5: Informed Consent

You will need to provide informed consent as part of the application process.

The results of a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check include:

• Disclosable Court Outcomes: Convictions, penalties, or sentences that are deemed to be relevant to the purpose of the check, in accordance with spent convictions legislation and information release policies.
• Pending Charges: Pending criminal court cases that have not yet been resolved.
• No Disclosable Court Outcomes: Indicates no relevant discosable history for the applicant.

1. Convenience

Students can complete the entire process online. There is no need to wait in line to get your ID documents certified.

2. Fast Turnaround

70% of checks are returned in 24 hours. Due to a 'potential match ', the remaining may take more than 15 days.

3. Data Security

All data is stored onshore in Australia. All of ANCC's staff are based in Australia. ANCC uses advanced security measures to protect data.

4. Cost-Effective

A student placement check costs $24.90 + GST (base cost).

Who Needs a Student Placement Check?

Students in industries like healthcare, education, community services, and law often require a nationally coordinated criminal history check before placements. Check with your institution for specific requirements.

How Long Is the Check Valid?

Organisations should only accept a check result for up to three months for new placements. Renewal periods of 12 months generally apply as good practice.

Can One Student Placement Check Be Used for Multiple Placements?

No, each check must have specific details on the purpose of the check, as this may impact police information release policies.

What Happens If a Disabled Criminal Record Shows Up?

Having a Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO) result on the check doesn't automatically disqualify a student for placement.

The placement officer or the university must assess the relevance of the offence based on the role and any legislative requirements that may disqualify people with certain offences.