Most checks (70%) get returned to applicants within 24 hours. Approximately 30 per cent of checks may be referred to one or more police agencies and can take longer than 10 business days to be returned due to the manual nature of this process.

ANCC's software system automatically dispatches results via email on the same day the results are received.

You can apply through an accredited agency like ANCC.

If applying online, the application process starts with filling out the online application form (instead of the conventional paper form) and then uploading your identification documents online. You can complete the entire process in under 15 minutes.

There is no difference in the legitimacy of a nationally coordinated criminal history check issued to applicants by Australian National Character Check (ANCC) and a nationally coordinated criminal history check issued by the police force.

Applicants who apply online through Australian National Character Check sometimes experience a difference in speed and efficiency when obtaining their nationally coordinated criminal history check online.

Overall, applicants save time and money when applying for their nationally coordinated criminal history check online.

A number of companies and licensing organisations will only admit or employ a person after conducting a background check.

Requesting an employment nationally coordinated criminal history check for a new employee (or periodic checks for current employees) aligns with several organisations' compliance or risk mitigation policies.

The expiry period for a nationally coordinated criminal history check can only be determined by the party that requests it.

A nationally coordinated criminal history check is a 'point in time check' with no set expiry date. Most organisations in Victoria (VIC) will not accept a nationally coordinated criminal history check that is older than three months.

This timeframe for the expiry date will vary and will depend on each organisation's internal risk mitigation strategies.

Whilst most checks get dispatched within 24 hours, issuing a nationally coordinated criminal history check can take longer if the national police checking service identifies the need for a 'manual review'.

If required, checks get automatically referred for manual processing. A manual review may occur when a person has a name that is similar to someone in the country who has a criminal history or is of interest to Australian police agencies. This process will delay the applicant getting their check.

ANCC's software system automatically dispatches checks the same day they are received.

Unfortunately, it is beyond the scope of ANCC to predict which applications may get referred to for manual processing.

Applicants must allocate sufficient time if their application gets referred for manual processing.

The check contains a list of disclosable court outcomes (DCOs). DCOs include and are not limited to records such as court summons, court sentences, offences, and pending criminal cases within Australia. Offences are disclosed according to the spent convictions scheme and each state and territory's release policies. Those offences may include:

• Traffic offences, domestic and public violence and others;
• Infractions of the law, community orders, sanctions and suspended sentences.

For information about how the spent convictions scheme or information release policies apply to nationally coordinated criminal history checks, please refer to the ACIC website for useful links to the spent convictions legislation.

Employment nationally coordinated criminal history checks provide decision-makers with sound information for placing persons within a position of trust.

Overall, the checks help to improve workplace safety.