Healthcare Employment Background Checks in Australia

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) provides nationally coordinated criminal history checks to people working in Australia's Healthcare Sector.

Check timeframes: 70 percent of the checks are returned to applicants within 24 hours. Results are emailed on the same day they are received. Approximately 30 percent of checks may be referred to one or more police agencies and can take longer than 15 business days or more to be returned, due to the manual nature of this process.

Do you work in HR in an Australian healthcare sector and need background checks for workers? Australian National Character Check (ANCC) provides a streamlined solution for nationally coordinated criminal history checks via our business portal.

Please apply for your nationally coordinated criminal history check via the individual portal here.

If the purpose of the check is for employment, individual applicants should select the “Employment” check category on their application form. If the purpose of the check is for licensing, please select the “Licensing” check category on the application form.

Businesses (healthcare sector) seeking bulk background checks can apply for access to the ANCC Business Portal.

Australia's healthcare system ensures access to high-quality healthcare services for all its citizens. The healthcare system comprises vital personnel, including doctors, nurses, specialists, pharmacists, and administrative and support staff. Safety and security lie is crucial in the healthcare system, and background checks play a fundamental role in ensuring that.

Explore our comprehensive guide, where we demystify the process and shed light on the significance of background screenings. From doctors to support personnel, we delve into the various healthcare occupations, highlighting the importance of thorough checks.

A background check is conducted by law enforcement background check providers to assess an individual's criminal record and any relevant information. It involves examining databases and records to verify if the person has been involved in illegal activities or has convictions, charges, or pending court cases. Background checks are officially referred to as nationally coordinated criminal history checks (NCCHC) in Australia.

Healthcare professionals undergo background checks to ensure patient's safety and well-being and maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of the healthcare system. Here are some reasons why background checks are conducted for healthcare professionals:

Background checks help keep patients safe. By conducting these checks, healthcare employers can identify any past criminal behaviour or history that may pose a risk to patient safety.

Many regulatory bodies and professional associations in Australia require healthcare professionals to undergo background checks as part of the registration or licensing process. Compliance with these requirements is essential to practice legally and uphold professional standards.

Healthcare professionals in Australia have legal and ethical obligations to provide safe and effective care. Conducting background checks helps employers fulfil their duty to ensure that healthcare providers meet these obligations, fostering a culture of safety and accountability.

Healthcare professionals often work with vulnerable populations, such as children, older people, or individuals with disabilities. Background checks are crucial in these cases to provide additional protection for these vulnerable individuals and maintain their well-being.

Healthcare organizations and professionals strive to foster trust and preserve a positive reputation. By conducting background checks, they demonstrate their commitment to safety and accountability, which enhances confidence among patients, colleagues, and the broader community.

Here are the steps for getting a background check as a healthcare professional:

You can apply for a background check via a check provider. The process involves completing an online form with information like your name, DOB, address, etc. You'll also have to upload three identification documents, and they include:

• ✔ One commencement of ID document
• ✔ One primary use in community document
• ✔ One secondary use in community documents

You'll also have to pay the associated fee before your check application is processed. This will vary depending on your check provider.

After applying, your check provider ensures your details and documents are correct.

The system they use runs a name-matching algorithm to pull out potential criminal history matches from its extensive record. The system instantly returns a 'no disclosable court outcome (NDCO)' if it doesn't find one. But if it does, the system forwards those criminal details to manual verification. Here, they ensure that those criminal records belong to the applicant. If that's the case, they then apply the spent conviction legislation to determine which of those records are releasable before sending the final check result to the check provider.

Your check provider will notify you once they get the result.

Various healthcare roles in Australia may require a healthcare background check. This includes doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, support staff, and volunteers working in healthcare settings.

The processing time for a healthcare policy check depends on the organization conducting the check. It typically ranges from a day (for NDCOs) to 15 working days (for check results that require manual verification).

It is illegal for employers to carry out a background check without the applicant's consent. The employer explains how the background check result will be used before seeking their permission.

While background checks do not technically expire, organizations set acceptable timeframes based on operational requirements and risk assessments.

ANCC is one of Australia's leading background check providers. We provide streamlined and affordable background checking services to healthcare professionals. We also have a unique platform for HR managers seeking to hire healthcare professionals. Read on to find out more.

Are you a healthcare professional in Australia? ANCC can provide a background check for employment, a certificate, or any other purpose. Our portal enables you to order a check within minutes and track the entire process in real-time. You are guaranteed to get the result promptly.

Hiring managers in the healthcare sector can now rely on ANCC's business portal to provide fast and efficient background checking services. The business portal allows you to order bulk background check applications and track the process in real-time. We effectively manage the process and provide the background check result at your fingertips, providing the information to foster the best hiring decisions.