Australian National Character Check

Australian National Character Check: nationally coordinated criminal history checks online

Australian National Character Check (ANCC) is an Australian provider of nationally coordinated criminal history checks, formerly known as national police checks. The company presents itself as a discount provider and states that its services are used by individuals, approved businesses and government agencies across Australia. Applications are processed through the federal government's National Police Checking Service (NPCS).

Check services for individuals and businesses

ANCC offers a nationally coordinated criminal history check valid in all Australian states and territories. The service is aimed at various purposes: employment, licensing and accreditation, probity, federal employment, volunteering and student placements. There is a discounted price for volunteers and students. The company also markets a Right to Work check (VEVO) service, designed for businesses to verify that their workers have legal work rights in Australia. This service covers legal work status, visa conditions, work restrictions compliance and citizenship and residency statuses.

The company states that it processes hundreds of checks every day and that applications are reviewed in accordance with federal government guidelines. It also offers a business portal with HR software integrations, the option to create a co-branded website and business accounts to manage worker checks.

Types of checks and sectors served

ANCC's catalogue includes, in addition to the nationally coordinated criminal history check, other types such as Working with Children Checks, Working with Vulnerable People Registration, NDIS Worker Screening Checks and VEVO checks. The company notes that its services are suitable for a wide range of industries and employment situations, and specifically mentions the aged care, real estate, driver accreditation, education, gig economy and finance sectors.

Application process and timeframes

The online application form can be completed in a few minutes. According to the company's data, 70% of checks are returned within 24 hours, while approximately 30% may take 15 days or more due to a potential match. ANCC offers an express processing option called 'Jump higher in the queue', which allows the application to move ahead in ANCC's internal review queue. The company clarifies that this option only affects the part of the process carried out by ANCC in accordance with federal guidelines, and that once the application is sent to the National Police Checking Service or police agencies, these do not offer express processing. Applications are reviewed only during office hours.

Published pricing

The site shows a base fee of AUD 53.50 plus GST for the nationally coordinated criminal history check, with a discounted price of AUD 26.50 plus GST. The amounts including GST are AUD 58.85 and AUD 29.15 respectively. For the Right to Work check (VEVO), the indicated base fee is AUD 8.90 plus GST, with a GST-inclusive price of AUD 9.79. The company presents itself as a discount provider and states that it matches or beats prices.

Support, security and certifications

ANCC has a support team based in Canberra, ACT, and all data is stored securely in Australia. The support team's hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00. The company states that it is ISO 27001 certified and that its information security management systems are regularly audited by accredited certifiers. It also offers instant SMS updates when the result of the nationally coordinated criminal history check has been delivered.

Recognition and reviews

The company presents itself as one of the highest-rated employment background check providers, and refers to its reviews on Google, Product Reviews and Trustpilot. The material includes testimonials from users who highlight the ease of use of the interface, the speed of support responses and the usefulness of the help received during the application process.

Location and contact

Email: support@ancc.com.au