1 July 2021

Provider Alert: NDIS Worker Screening Check and Database

The NDIS Worker Screening Check starts in the Northern Territory today. This alert explains what this means for you, your workers and the people with disability you support. 

Key points

• From today, the NDIS Worker Screening Check starts in the Northern Territory, replacing existing screening arrangements.
• The Worker Screening Check sets a single national standard for all NDIS workers, helping to improve participants’ choice and control, and the quality and safety of their NDIS supports.
• Workers who receive an NDIS Worker Screening clearance to work in certain roles will be subject to ongoing monitoring against police and other information.
• Workers who hold a valid acceptable check (in accordance with NT transitional arrangements) do not need to apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check straight away.

NDIS Worker Screening Check

From today, the NDIS Worker Screening Check (Worker Screening Check) replaces existing screening arrangements operating in the Northern Territory.

As the Worker Screening Check started in all other states and territories on 1 February this year, its commencement in the Northern Territory means there is now a single national standard for all NDIS workers.

The Worker Screening Check is an assessment of whether a person who works, or seeks to work, with people with disability poses a risk to them. It aims to ensure workers who pose an unacceptable risk of harm to NDIS participants are not engaged by registered providers to work in risk assessed roles.

The NDIS Worker Screening Check:

• supports registered providers’ recruitment, selection and screening processes, and assists in the ongoing review of workers’ suitability
• increases self-managed participants’ choice and control by giving them the option of asking that the workers who provide them with supports and services obtain an NDIS worker screening clearance before engaging them
• allows workers with an NDIS worker screening clearance to work in risk assessed roles with registered NDIS providers in any state or territory across Australia
• assists in improving the quality and safety of NDIS supports to NDIS participants.

Registered NDIS providers must only engage workers in a risk assessed if they have been cleared.

However, not all workers in risk assessed roles need to apply for a Worker Screening Check straight away. If they currently hold a valid acceptable check, this will continue to be recognised for a period of time. This gives you and your workers time to transition to the new arrangements.

Unregistered NDIS providers and self-managed participants can ask workers to undertake a Worker Screening Check and obtain an NDIS worker screening clearance, but this is not a requirement.

NDIS Worker Screening Database

The NDIS Worker Screening Database holds a register of cleared and excluded workers. This means that NDIS providers across Australia can use a single online portal to verify their workers’ Worker Screening Check applications, and review the NDIS worker screening clearances of prospective workers, without needing to contact individual state and territory WSUs

Registered providers have automatic access to the NDIS Worker Screening Database through the NDIS Commission Portal. There is no need for registered providers to apply for access.

Self-managed and plan-managed participants and unregistered providers need to apply to the NDIS Commission to access information stored on the NDIS Worker Screening Database.

More information and resources

More information about the Worker Screening Check, including a number of fact sheets, flowcharts, and quick reference guides, is available on the NDIS Commission website.

Contact us

Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9.00am to 5.00pm (9.00am to 4.30pm in the NT) Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au