How to do a background check on someone in Australia

Here’s an overview of how to perform a background check on someone in Australia:

1. Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check:

You can obtain a criminal history check through Australian police agencies or ACIC accredited bodies. Two ways to obtain the check:

•  In-Person: Visit a local police station.

•  Online: Use an Australian-based accredited agency such as Worker Checks
  

2. AusCheck Background Checks (Conducted by the Australian Government):

AusCheck conducts background checks, primarily for individuals who need unsupervised access to work in security-sensitive areas within critical infrastructure sectors.

You cannot apply directly to AusCheck for a background check; instead, you must apply through an issuing body or registered entity.

The background check includes the following components:

• Criminal History Check: Conducted by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).

• Criminal Intelligence Assessment (for ASIC & MSIC applicants only): Also performed by the ACIC.

• National Security Assessment: Conducted by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

• Right to Work in Australia Check: For Australian Visa holders, this is done through the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.

Disqualifications can occur if you have a Tier 1 security-relevant offense or receive an adverse security assessment (ASA) or qualified security assessment (QSA) as a result of the national security assessment

3. Employment Background Checks:

Employers in Australia may conduct various background checks, including:

• Identity Check

• Employment History Verification

• Qualifications Verification

• References Check.

4. Free Background Checks:

While official background checks typically involve fees, here are some methods for free checks:

- Search Engines: Start by searching the person’s name or other relevant information on search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

- Social Media Networks: Check their profiles on platforms like Facebook.

- Public Records: Look for publicly available records.

- Financial History Checks: Review any financial information available.

- Checking Web Domains or IP Addresses: Investigate online presence