Volunteer/Student Placement Checks

This article explains the requirements for a volunteer/student placement Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

A volunteer check is the National Police Checking Service’s way of recognising those not-for-profit, charitable or volunteer services organisations who contribute to community safety, as such the Volunteer check is offered at a subsidised fee.

Volunteer checks can only be used where the individual applicant will:

• freely hold the position or perform the role on a voluntary basis for the benefit of the community;
• not be an employee, contractor, subcontractor, staff member or officer of an organisation;
• not be entitled to a salary or any other entitlements or benefits associated with the position or role; and/or
• be a student undertaking a compulsory vocational placement as a requirement of an Australian-based academic institution or training course.

When you are completing a volunteer check, you will need to provide:

• The relevant volunteer role, student placement role or course name you will undertaking; and
• The name of the volunteer organisation, company where you will complete your placement or the name of the university / institute where you are studying

If you are a volunteer and do not have a specific role, you may provide the type of work the charity undertakes or duties that may be performed.

Some examples of acceptable check purposes include:

• Volunteer Support coordinator, Cancer Council Australia, Sydney, New South Wales
• Student medical placement, Bachelor of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
• Volunteer Age Care visitor, Bendigo Blue Age Care Centre, Bendigo, Victoria
• Volunteer Tour Guide, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory