About the screening process
The screening process examines a person’s criminal history to make sure they are suitable to work in aged care.
Types of screening
All aged care workers and responsible persons (such as a CEO or Board Member) need either a:
- police certificate (not older than 3 years) that does not record certain offences
- an NDIS worker screening check.
Police check and certificate
There are certain offences that will stop you from working for a registered provider. The registered provider must assess your police certificate for certain offences. These. are:
- conviction for murder
- conviction for sexual assault
- conviction and imprisonment sentence for any other form of assault.
If you work for a registered provider delivering Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) or National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) services, the offences that will stop you from working in aged care are:
- a conviction for an offence involving the death of a person
- in the past 5 years, a conviction and imprisonment sentence for 1 year or longer for:
- a sex related offence or a crime, including sexual assault (whether against an adult or child)
- child abuse material offences
- an indecent act involving a child
- a crime or offence involving dishonesty.
You must immediately notify your employer if your circumstances change after your certificate is assessed.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
The NDIS worker screening check is recognised in aged care. This assessment is undertaken by a state or territory worker screening unit and will check your national criminal history and work misconduct history.
You must have this check if you work or want to work in a risk-assessed role for a registered NDIS provider. This may also apply if you work in an aged care setting that supports NDIS participants.
If you have an NDIS worker screening check you do not need a police certificate.
You must immediately notify your employer if your NDIS worker screening check is suspended or cancelled.
Future of screening checks
The Australian Government is working with states and territories on a national worker screening check for the care and support economy to:
- strengthen protections for Australians who receive government-funded care and support
- increase consistency across sectors and jurisdictions.
A national worker screening check will also boost labour mobility and efficiency across the care and support economy.
This work is being led by a taskforce within the Department of Finance.
For information contact caresectorworkerscreening@finance.gov.au.
Resources
For more information, see: