A Volunteer National Police Check (NPC) will specify all disclosable court outcomes from all Australian police jurisdictions and can only be used for individuals undertaking unpaid, voluntary work.
How does a Volunteer National Police Check differ from a standard NPC?
A Volunteer National Police Check can only be used for individuals engaging in unpaid, volunteer work such as community services or for charity organisations. The process itself and the data obtained from the police check is largely the same as a standard police check however, it will not be permissible for individuals seeking paid work.
How long does a Volunteer National Police Check take?
Most Volunteer National Police Checks are returned within 24 hours. In the case where a police check will need to be referred to a police agency, the police check may take up to ten working days or longer, depending on the intricacy of the check.
What data is collected?
In order to process a Volunteer National Police Check, the applicant is required to provide the following documentation and information:
- A minimum of four identity documents
- Personal contact information
- Residential history for the past five years
How does the service work?
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) work with Australian police agencies and accredited bodies to deliver the National Police Checking Service (NPCS).
ProbityPeople is an ACIC accredited agency which means we act on behalf of applicants to apply for and submit police checks. The ACIC entrusts us with direct access to the NPCS to play a vital role in helping safeguard the Australian community.
Once the application is lodged, the applicant’s details are checked against a national database to generate a potential match. If a potential match is flagged, those details are referred to the relevant police agency for further assessment. If the police agency confirms the applicant’s details do not match the police information, a ‘No Disclosable Court Outcome’ result will be provided.
What results can be found on a Volunteer National Police Check?
A Volunteer National Police Check will detail any disclosable court outcomes or pending charges incurred across all Australian police jurisdictions. This might include:
- Any conviction sentenced in court
- Details pertaining to the court, date and location related to the conviction
- Good behaviour bonds
- Traffic convictions
- Charges not yet convicted in court
- Findings of guilt by a court
Can a Volunteer National Police Check be conducted without consent?
A check can only be conducted with the consent of the applicant. In doing so, they are consenting to the specific purpose of that check. If the applicant requires a check for a different purpose, they must provide their informed consent again. Under certain and limited circumstances, a police check can be conducted without consent for law enforcement, immigration and administration of justice purposes.
Who has access to the Volunteer National Police Check result?
Only authorised staff who form part of the police check assessment process may have access to an applicant’s personal information and police check result. For example:
- Authorised police staff involved in the police check assessment process
- Authorised ACIC staff to support accredited bodies and police agencies when processing the police check
- Authorised staff of the accredited agency, ProbityPeople
- Authorised staff of the employer, with the applicant’s informed consent
Can the Volunteer National Police Check result be disputed or appealed?
When an applicant believes the result of their police check is incorrect, it may be disputed or appealed through ProbityPeople. The disputed results will be investigated, and the applicant will be advised of the outcome by ProbityPeople.
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