Who can request a Volunteer Police Check Certificate?

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) recognises that many organisations contribute to community safety through non-for-profit, charitable or volunteer services. For this reason, the Worker Checks offers a reduced cost volunteer check to assist individuals who work on a volunteer basis.

The Volunteer check type is intended for the submission of nationally coordinated criminal history check for applicants seeking to uptake a genuine volunteer position.

A volunteer police check can be requested if the applicant will:

- freely hold the position or perform the role on a voluntary basis for the common good not be an employee or contractor and will not be entitled to a salary or any other entitlements associated with the position or role, other than payment of out of pocket expenses, or

- the applicant is a student undertaking a compulsory unpaid vocational placement as part of a training course requirement of an Australian-based educational institution.

An applicant should be able to provide evidence about the role they are applying for to ensure that they are entitled to a volunteer check.

* A volunteer check cannot be submitted for applicants applying for the Australian Government’s Work for the Dole Scheme.

Which non-employment roles DO NOT meet the Volunteer check type?

Non-employment reasons that do not meet the Volunteer check type include:

- tenancy (rental) purposes

- social media participation reasons

- insurance related purposes or to support business that operate on private premises

- placing an Au Pair or overseas students in a family home

- participation in television productions

- family day care providers (operating on a commercial basis) who require checks for any residents on the premises where in-home care is being provided to children.

Although in these instances the individuals are not seeking employment, they do receive personal benefits, payments or entitlements as a result of the activity that they are undertaking, and/or they are not undertaking an activity which enhances or extends benefit to the community at large.