The NDIS Worker Screening Check is a national criminal and background check for people working in risk-assessed roles with NDIS participants. Registered providers must make sure workers in those roles are cleared. Here is how it works and what you must keep on file.
What is the NDIS Worker Screening Check?
It is a national assessment of whether a person poses a risk to people with disability. It is run by state and territory worker screening units and recorded on a national database, so a clearance is recognised across Australia.
Who needs a clearance?
Workers in risk-assessed roles, broadly roles with more than incidental contact with participants or that involve direct supports, need a clearance. Registered providers identify these roles and ensure those workers are cleared. Some roles also require it under state or territory law.
How to apply and how long it lasts
Workers apply through their state or territory screening unit and link the application to your organisation. A clearance is generally valid for 5 years, subject to ongoing monitoring, and can be used across multiple employers.
Records you must keep
Keep a record of each worker's clearance and its status, check it before they start in a risk-assessed role, and monitor expiry. Your onboarding checklist should capture screening alongside the Worker Orientation Module and Code of Conduct acknowledgement.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check?
Workers in risk-assessed roles, broadly those with more than incidental contact with participants or who deliver direct supports. Registered providers must identify these roles and ensure workers are cleared.
How long does an NDIS Worker Screening clearance last?
A clearance is generally valid for 5 years, subject to ongoing monitoring, and is recognised nationally across multiple employers.
How do workers apply for the check?
Workers apply through their state or territory worker screening unit and link the application to your organisation, which verifies the clearance before they start.
Related NDIS guides
General information for Australian NDIS providers, not legal advice. Always check the current NDIS Practice Standards and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements for your situation.