❓ This WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on police clearances for individuals working with children, including recognition of interstate clearances, transferability between organisations, and reapplication frequency. The answer details the different types of checks and their limitations.
AnsweredQoN 497Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) are clearances from other States and Territories currently recognised in Western Australia; (c) if yes to (b), what are the evidentiary requirements that must be met before a clearance from another State or Territory is accepted and an individual may work with children in Western Australia; (d) are clearances obtained by one organisation in Western Australia on behalf of a volunteer transferable to other organisations in Western Australia for which the volunteer wishes to work; and (e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(c) if yes to (b), what are the evidentiary requirements that must be met before a clearance from another State or Territory is accepted and an individual may work with children in Western Australia; (d) are clearances obtained by one organisation in Western Australia on behalf of a volunteer transferable to other organisations in Western Australia for which the volunteer wishes to work; and (e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(d) are clearances obtained by one organisation in Western Australia on behalf of a volunteer transferable to other organisations in Western Australia for which the volunteer wishes to work; and (e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(i) Employers of paid or unpaid staff may request a National Police Certificate as part of their employment screening policies. Individuals apply at local Police Stations. WA Police obtain disclosable conviction information from jurisdictions across Australia through CRIMTRAC, the national law enforcement support agency. The individual provides the Certificate to their employer who interprets the conviction information to inform their recruitment decision making. (ii) Larger government departments who require criminal history checks for a large number of staff - Education, Health, Community Development and Justice are accredited by CRIMTRAC to undertake the checks directly with them rather than via WA Police. (iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences. (b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(ii) Larger government departments who require criminal history checks for a large number of staff - Education, Health, Community Development and Justice are accredited by CRIMTRAC to undertake the checks directly with them rather than via WA Police. (iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences. (b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences. (b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(c) if yes to (b), what are the evidentiary requirements that must be met before a clearance from another State or Territory is accepted and an individual may work with children in Western Australia; (d) are clearances obtained by one organisation in Western Australia on behalf of a volunteer transferable to other organisations in Western Australia for which the volunteer wishes to work; and (e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(d) are clearances obtained by one organisation in Western Australia on behalf of a volunteer transferable to other organisations in Western Australia for which the volunteer wishes to work; and (e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(e) how often must an applicant, or an organisation applying on an applicants’ behalf, reapply for a police clearance?
(i) Employers of paid or unpaid staff may request a National Police Certificate as part of their employment screening policies. Individuals apply at local Police Stations. WA Police obtain disclosable conviction information from jurisdictions across Australia through CRIMTRAC, the national law enforcement support agency. The individual provides the Certificate to their employer who interprets the conviction information to inform their recruitment decision making. (ii) Larger government departments who require criminal history checks for a large number of staff - Education, Health, Community Development and Justice are accredited by CRIMTRAC to undertake the checks directly with them rather than via WA Police. (iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences. (b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(ii) Larger government departments who require criminal history checks for a large number of staff - Education, Health, Community Development and Justice are accredited by CRIMTRAC to undertake the checks directly with them rather than via WA Police. (iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences. (b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences. (b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a). (c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(c) not applicable (d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person. (e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 January 2006
Responded by
Minister for Community Development
Response time
54 days
(a)There are currently three processes in operation in Western Australia.
(i) Employers of paid or unpaid staff may request a National Police Certificate as part of their employment screening policies. Individuals apply at local Police Stations. WA Police obtain disclosable conviction information from jurisdictions across Australia through CRIMTRAC, the national law enforcement support agency. The individual provides the Certificate to their employer who interprets the conviction information to inform their recruitment decision making.
(ii) Larger government departments who require criminal history checks for a large number of staff - Education, Health, Community Development and Justice are accredited by CRIMTRAC to undertake the checks directly with them rather than via WA Police.
(iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences.
(b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a).
(c) not applicable
(d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person.
(e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
(i) Employers of paid or unpaid staff may request a National Police Certificate as part of their employment screening policies. Individuals apply at local Police Stations. WA Police obtain disclosable conviction information from jurisdictions across Australia through CRIMTRAC, the national law enforcement support agency. The individual provides the Certificate to their employer who interprets the conviction information to inform their recruitment decision making.
(ii) Larger government departments who require criminal history checks for a large number of staff - Education, Health, Community Development and Justice are accredited by CRIMTRAC to undertake the checks directly with them rather than via WA Police.
(iii) Volunteer organisations in the not for profit sector may screen volunteers through the National Police Checks for Volunteers Program. This reduced fee scheme allows volunteer organisations to have checks done by WAPOL through an email connection with WAPOL rather than via police stations. The consent of volunteers and an identity check is required. This program does not provide a Certificate listing offences, rather it provides an indication to the organisation about whether the applicant has any type of conviction and whether this is serious or minor. Those individuals found to have offences (about 9% of volunteers under the program) are usually required by their organisations to then obtain a National Police Certificate which details the offences.
(b) There is no such thing as a standard "Police clearance". See answers (a).
(c) not applicable
(d) Information obtained by a volunteer organisation through the reduced fee National Police Checks for Volunteers Program can only be used for the information of that organisation and cannot be released to a third party such as another volunteer organisation or an employer under Federal Privacy legislation. If a volunteer obtains the full fee National Police Certificate that Certficate is transferable and can be used with all the organisations and places of employment of that person.
(e) The frequency with which an organisation requires employees or volunteers to be rechecked is currently a policy decision for that organisation. The organisation must make a decision about the required frequency of checks. Under the Working with Children Checks scheme, a new check is required every three years if a person continues to work with children. However if a person working with children has a relevant change in criminal record during the three years, they are required to report this to their employer or the Working with Children Screening Unit who will then reassess their criminal history. As an added safety measure WA Police will provide the Working with Children Screening Unit with information about relevant charges of persons already provided with a clear assessment notice.
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