Crowded places, like major national events are an attractive target for terrorists and serious crime. The risk of significant loss of life and damage to property can be mitigated by effective protective security measures. By ensuring that those employed to work or volunteer at major national events have had appropriate screening in the form of a national security background check, event organisers can be confident, knowing their personnel are less likely to pose a national security risk.
Major national events are declared by the Minister for Home Affairs under the AusCheck Act 2007. AusCheck conducts background checks for people who work or volunteer at declared major national events and their facilities.
Major national events include international cricket and football tournaments and Guests of Government events. What is the purpose of a background check? A background check informs the event organisers on whether or not an applicant may be eligible to work or volunteer at the event. That means, is a person safe? Or, do they pose a security risk? If an applicant is assessed as eligible to work or volunteer, it is up to the event organiser to determine if a security credential, such as an identity card or pass is issued or not.
How an application is assessed. The organising body or their authorised representative for the major national event will: accept and review an individual's application, confirm that they have an operational need for accreditation, verify their identity, tell them the result of the background check and decide if they will be accredited. AusCheck, the background checking branch within the Department of Home Affairs.
Conducts the background check. An AusCheck background check includes: identity verification, a criminal record assessment by AusCheck using information collected by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, a national security assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. A ‘right to work in Australia’ check if you hold an Australian Visa conducted through the Department of Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online.
There are three possible findings when assessing if an individual should be able to work or volunteer at a major national event. These are: Eligible: the criminal record has no major national event security-relevant offences. Eligible with security relevant offences: the criminal history has at least one level 2 or level 3 major national event security-relevant offence. Not eligible:
The criminal history has at least one level 1 major national event security-relevant offence or the national security assessment is adverse or qualified. Where an outcome indicates a possible unfavourable result for the individual, that is, it is unlikely they will be able to work or volunteer at a major national event because of their criminal history, AusCheck will contact the applicant in writing and they will have the opportunity to make representations regarding the assessment.
Details on security relevant offences can be found on the AusCheck website. If AusCheck still assesses an unfavourable result for the individual, they will again be notified of that in writing. AusCheck will then provide advice about the outcomes of a completed background check to the applicant's organising body. The individual can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if they think that AusCheck has applied the law incorrectly in its decision making process.
How to apply. An individual cannot apply directly to AusCheck for a background check to volunteer or work at a declared major national event. Applications are managed through the event organiser. AusCheck ensures the protection of personal data for all applications, to read the privacy notice or for more information go to www.auscheck.gov.au or to your organising body for your event.
