From July 2020, Australian states and territories commenced National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening. This is part of the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework, and replaces the current arrangements for screening workers in the NDIS industry.

Registered NDIS providers must ensure that particular workers have an appropriate check as a mandatory requirement of NDIS provider registration. This guarantees that key personnel and workers in roles delivering specified NDIS supports or specified NDIS services, or with more than incidental contact with people with disability, do not pose an unacceptable risk to the safety and wellbeing of NDIS participants.

Any applicant who wishes to apply for or uptake a role under the umbrella of the NDIS must obtain a suitable worker screening check. It is important to note that a standard nationally coordinated criminal history check is not sufficient for this purpose, and the appropriate check cannot be obtained from all ACIC accredited bodies.

Depending on which state or territory the role is located in, applicants will need to obtain the appropriate screening check as outlined by the interim screening requirements, which came into effect as of 1 July 2019. Please see the NDIS Commission website for further information regarding the applicable check for your state or territory.

The majority of accredited bodies do not have access to these check types. Please ensure that your websites and documentation explicitly state that your organisation is not able to meet the screening requirements for NDIS checks. Unless your organisation is an authorised screening unit, you must take steps to ensure that applicants do not mistake nationally coordinated criminal history checks for the required check if they are applying for an NDIS-related role.