About AusCheck
AusCheck provides background checks for critical infrastructure workers in Australia.
Our role includes processing background check applications and issuing credentials.
We ensure applicants' identity and coordinate their criminal and national security background checks. This determines their eligibility for unsupervised access to secure areas in:
- aviation
- maritime
- national health facilities
- major national events
- security-sensitive critical infrastructure sectors.
AusCheck is part of the Department of Home Affairs Critical Infrastructure Security Centre(Opens in a new tab/window). AusCheck supports the Centre’s mission to create a safer Australia by protecting security-sensitive infrastructure from trusted and malicious insider risks, such as:
- cyber attacks
- terrorism
- organised crime.
AusCheck legislation
AusCheck provides background checking services through a framework made up of:
The framework also governs:
- how we share information with other government agencies
- how AusCheck information is managed and stored.
The framework outlines a range of administrative matters for the operation of AusCheck as it applies to:
- Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 (ATS Act)
- Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 (MTOFS Act)
- National Health Security Act 2007 (NHS Act)
- any other Act that expressly requires, or permits, a background check to be conducted under the AusCheck scheme.
The AusCheck Act and AusCheck Regulations cover:
- information required for an application
- decisions
- advice
- fees
- review rights
- the use and disclosure of information.
The AusCheck Issuing Body functions are governed by the:
- Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005(Opens in a new tab/window)
- Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Regulations 2003(Opens in a new tab/window).
Accessing documents held by AusCheck
If you make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for access to documents, it must:
- be in writing
- provide a physical or electronic address where we can send our response
- provide enough information for us to identify the documents
- state that the request is under the FOI Act.
To make a valid request, you can either:
- complete the online form(Opens in a new tab/window)
- email foi@homeaffairs.gov.au
- write to:
Freedom of Information Section
Department of Home Affairs
PO Box 25
Belconnen ACT 2616
Australia
Our service charter
The purpose of our service charter is to tell you what to expect when you deal with us.
We seek stakeholders' views annually on our performance. We use that information to improve our services. Reports on our performance are in the Department of Home Affairs annual report(Opens in a new tab/window).
Our mission
AusCheck's mission is to provide fast, fair and reliable background checking services. This will enhance national security and advance national interests.
Our vision
We aim to deliver excellence in national background checking services.
Our values
We have a commitment to AusCheck's mission of enhancing national security.
Our values include:
- impartiality
- a commitment to service
- accountability
- respectfulness
- high ethical standards.
Our services
AusCheck's major functional services are to:
- provide fast, fair and reliable background checking services
- maintain an accurate database of background check applicants and cardholders. This involves appropriate data integrity features.
Our standards of service
AusCheck is committed to providing professional and consistent service. We will treat your dealings with us in confidence, and:
- act in a helpful and professional manner
- give an accurate, concise and well-considered reply. This will be in plain English
- give system access of 99% agreed availability time. Agreed availability means notifying our stakeholders of planned outages, for example, system maintenance
- acknowledge 100% of all applications in 1 business day:
- Most applications progress through the AusCheck background checking process within a short period of time. However, some applications may take longer due to various factors relating to the criminal history and security assessment process. Once an application is endorsed by an issuing body, organising body or responsible entity and the applicant’s identity is verified, it proceeds to the background checking partner agencies and the results are then returned to AusCheck. As a guide, applications should be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to an operational need to allow sufficient time for background checking, processing, card creation and dispatch
- Applicants should contact the issuing body, organising body or responsible entity that they submitted their application through if requesting a progress update
- tell you before starting work if there is a fee for the services you have requested. We will give you an estimate of the total fee
- where we cannot assist, we do our best to refer you to the most appropriate agency.
Visit the Department of Home Affairs website to read our full service charter(Opens in a new tab/window).
AusCheck's decisions where a review or appeal mechanism already exists
Decisions AusCheck makes may be subject to review or appeal. This comes under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1997, or by the Administrative Review Tribunal. Our service charter does not replace these existing mechanisms. For information on how to appeal a decision that AusCheck has made, see Aviation and Maritime Security Identification Cards (ASICs and MSICs). You can also refer to the National Health Security (NHS) page on this website.