Background checks
in Australia

An AFP National Police Check (also called a National Police Certificate or NPC) is a criminal history check coordinated by the Australian Federal Police. It searches national criminal history records from all Australian states and territories, including federal offences. The check returns disclosable court outcomes, pending charges, and findings of guilt, with the level of disclosure determined by the stated purpose of the check (such as employment, volunteering, or licencing).

Turnaround times vary by check type. AFP National Police Checks typically take 2–12 business days, though most are completed within a few days. Education and employment verifications generally return in 1–9 business days. Identity verification is instant. Credit checks typically complete in 1–3 business days. Cases that require fingerprint-based checks can take 15 or more working days.

An AFP National Police Check covers criminal history records from all states and territories in a single request, making it the standard choice for most employment screening. State-based police checks are separate processes managed by individual state and territory police forces. For most pre-employment purposes, the AFP check provides the broadest coverage. Some industries and government roles may have specific requirements. Turn's compliance team can advise on the right approach for your situation.

The Privacy Act 1988 and the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) require employers to collect personal information only by lawful and fair means, with the individual's knowledge and consent. Information must be collected only for purposes directly related to a function or activity of the organisation. Employers must take reasonable steps to ensure the information is accurate, up to date, and protected from misuse, interference, and loss. Candidates have the right to access their personal information and request corrections.

Yes. Credit checks are available for candidates being considered for roles with financial responsibilities or access to financial systems. The check requires candidate consent and a permissible purpose under the Privacy Act and Australian credit reporting rules. Turn collects the appropriate consent and ensures the check is conducted within the legal framework.

Australia's Spent Convictions Scheme determines which older convictions can be excluded from background check results after a qualifying period. The rules vary by state and territory, for example, qualifying periods and eligible offence types differ between New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Some roles (such as positions working with children or in aged care) may be exempt from spent convictions protections. Turn's platform accounts for these state-specific rules in the screening process.

Yes. Turn offers pre-built integrations with leading ATS and HRIS platforms including Fountain, Lever, Greenhouse, Rippling, iCIMS, and more. Australian background checks are initiated, tracked, and reviewed through the same integration your team already uses.

Turn holds SOC 2 Type II (independently audited) and SOC 3 (publicly available) certifications. Our screening workflows are aligned with ISO 27001 information security management standards. Turn maintains compliance with the FCRA, the Australian Privacy Act 1988, GDPR and UK GDPR, PIPEDA, and US state privacy laws including CCPA.