Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check

We place the utmost importance on providing safe learning and working environments for our students and staff.

One way we support this is by making sure all employees, pre-service teachers, school council or board members, most volunteers and third-party providers consent to the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) processed by our Screening Unit and receive a screening clearance number before they commence (known as the ‘No Screen, No Start’ policy). No other police clearances will be accepted.

We have a formal agreement with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) to obtain police information to support the assessment of an applicant’s suitability for employment or to undertake activities at a public school or other Department site. Our system complies with the strict ICT environment safeguards set by the ACIC.

We take your privacy seriously and will only collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. We will manage your information in accordance with our Records Management policy and procedures.

• Who requires screening
• How to apply
• How applications are assessed
• Length of time a clearance is valid
• If you are charged or convicted of an offence after being cleared

Requires screening

Screening is required for:

• all employees of the Department of Education
• public school council or board members
• pre-service teachers and other practicum students
• post-compulsory students
• members of community groups who are located on school sites during the school day
• volunteers and contractors from an organisation we have a service agreement with
• contractors engaged for 21 business days or more per 12 months
• employees of other organisations who do regular or ongoing work in schools (for example, therapists, chaplains, uniform shop and canteen staff)
• residential college Local Input Networking Communications (LINC) committee members
• family and guests who stay with live-in residential college employees for 21 days or more per 12 months.

A principal or site manager has the discretion to request screening for:

• other community and parent volunteers
• members of community groups who use school facilities outside of school hours or only during school holidays.

Does not require screening

Screening is not required for:

• other contractors, third-party providers and temporary staff engaged for less than 21 business days per 12 months
• compulsory students who turn 18 while enrolled
• employees under 18 years of age, however they need one within 3 months after turning 18
• Department of Health employees including School Nurses and Western Australian Country Health Service (however principals must sight their current Department of Health screening)
• employees of other agencies who have a current NDIS Worker Screening Check.

Apply for your Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) through the Criminal Record Information System Personal Application (CRISPA).

You can find information on what identification you need to provide in CRISPA or read our NCCHC Identification requirements information sheet.

Most applications cost $46.00. The exceptions are:

• volunteers and practicum students who are only charged $10.00
• public school council and board members who are not charged.

These applications are not valid for paid employment.

After you have submitted your application, we will electronically send your information to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) to request a copy of your criminal history (if any), including spent convictions*, from within Australia. It may take up to 20 business days for us to receive a response from ACIC.

*The Department of Education has a full exception under the Spent Convictions Act 1988 which means we are entitled to receive these details and consider them in determining suitability for a screening clearance.

We will consider the information received and if you are assessed as suitable we will send you an email and SMS with your Screening Clearance Number (SCN). We may access or request one or more of the following when considering your application:

• Statement of Material Facts from WA Police Force for convictions recorded in Western Australia
• a personal statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the convictions
• professional character references who have knowledge of the convictions.

All information gathered is then assessed against the Criminal convictions suitability criteria. A Screening Committee will consider applications where a criminal conviction for a serious offence is identified, and make a decision based on a case-by-case approach, considering individual circumstances.

If your application is referred to the Screening Committee it may take longer than 20 business days for the outcome to be known. If you are refused clearance by the Screening Committee, you can appeal the decision. We will let you know the appeal process if your clearance is refused.

If you are an employee, in most cases, your screening status remains valid unless you have a break in service. For teaching staff (including casual and relief) a break in service is 12 months or more. For non-teaching staff, a break in service is 6 months or more.

Your screening is valid for 3 years (unless you have a break in service of 6 months or more) if you are:

• an external employee, for example, a canteen or uniform shop manager, chaplain, contractor or therapist
• member of a community group, for example, Out of School Hours Care or other group on a school site
• a volunteer.

If you are a volunteer (including a student who has completed a practicum) and you want to commence paid employment with us, you will need to apply for a new Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) at the full cost of $46.00.

If you are an exam marker, invigilator or a swimming instructor your screening clearance is valid for 3 years and you can have a 12-month break in service due to the seasonal nature of your work.

If you are a school council or board member your clearance is valid for 3 years and you can have a 6-month break in service.

For all breaks in service, you must submit an application for a new Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC). Your screening clearance number must be reissued before you can resume employment or activity on a school or other Department worksite.

If you are an employee of the Department and are charged or convicted of an offence, you are required to inform your line manager of the details of the charge or conviction. They may refer the matter to our Standards and Integrity directorate for consideration and action.

If you are a volunteer, or employed by an external agency, including as a contractor, you are required to inform the site manager or your employer, who must inform us in writing at screening@education.wa.edu.au.

Contact us

Screening Unit

Department of Education
151 Royal Street
East Perth WA 6004

Telephone: (08) 9264 4477
Email: screening@education.wa.edu.au
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4 pm