What Is The NDIS Worker Screening Check?
The NDIS has introduced a new NDIS Worker Screening Check. The new check is valid for five years, can be used in all states and territories of Australia and is a new measure to help NDIS participants receive support services safely. The cost of the NDIS Worker Screening Check is also a tax deductable expense for care and support workers.
The new NDIS Worker Screening Check (NWSC) has been put in place to lower the risk of harm to people living with disability by those who work and provide support to them. The NWSC will look at a care and support worker's application and decide whether they are 'cleared' or 'excluded' to work in certain roles with NDIS participants.
The NDIS Worker Screening Check will examine a worker's background which will include:
- Where the NDIS worker has worked before
- If the NDIS worker has taken part in a crime
- If the NDIS worker has done anything at work or in other places that would exclude them from working with participants.
The check is valid for 5 years but during this time, checks will be done to make sure NDIS workers are not putting people with disability at risk of being harmed. If the NDIS or Worker Screening Unit find a worker who may be at risk of harming a person with a disability, they can lose their NDIS Worker Screening Check.
Workers will be able to verify their applications and view their outcomes on a database.
How do you apply for the NDIS Worker Screening Check?
You can apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check through your state or territory agency. For more information about how to apply, including application fees, please click here.
When a worker makes an application for an NDIS Worker Screening Check there will be a fee payable which is set by the state or territory in which the application is made.
Workers must be able to prove their identity for the application to proceed. The process for this will depend on the state or territory in which a person makes their application.
Workers will nominate the NDIS provider or self-managed participant that engages them (or intends to engage them) to provide NDIS supports and services. The NDIS provider or self-managed participant then needs to verify that they engage (or intend to engage) the worker, for the purposes of delivering NDIS supports and services. The application will not proceed to assessment until the relevant NDIS provider or self-managed participant has verified the application.
The NDIS working screen check is also accepted by aged care providers
In June 2021, it was announced aged care providers will now accept the NDIS worker screening check. This means the check is valid when supporting both NDIS participants and when working in aged care. So if you support both NDIS participants and work for an aged care provider you only need to get the NDIS worker screening check. You will not need to get a police check certificate.
Source: NDIS Commission
To become a care or support worker, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/carer
To find disability support services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/disability-support-workers
To find aged care services, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/services/aged-care-workers
