30 July 2021

Provider alert: NDIS Worker Screening - extension of the transition period in Victoria​

The transition period for the NDIS Worker Screening Check in Victoria has been extended. This will allow registered NDIS providers to continue to engage workers with an acceptable check for an additional six months, to 31 January 2022. This alert explains what this means for you, your workers and the people with disability you support.

Key points

• Registered NDIS providers in Victoria can continue to engage a person in a risk assessed role, who has not applied for an NDIS Worker Screening Check, until 31 January 2022 if that person has an acceptable check.
• To have a valid acceptable check in Victoria, workers must meet the Victorian safety screening requirements which are described below.
• The transition period in Victoria has been extended to ensure the workforce that provide supports and services to NDIS participants in Victoria remains appropriately staffed during the transition period for NDIS worker screening.
• Workers can apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check through Service Victoria.

Extension of the transition period

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards – Worker Screening) Rules 2018 (Worker Screening Rules) have been amended to extend the transition period in Victoria by six months. This extension will allow registered NDIS providers in Victoria to continue to engage a person in a risk assessed role, if that person has not applied for an NDIS Worker Screening Check, until 31 January 2022 if that person has a valid acceptable check.

From 1 February 2022, registered NDIS providers in Victoria must ensure that all workers engaged in a risk assessed role (except for those required to have a Working with Children Check) have made an application for an NDIS Worker Screening Check.

What is an acceptable check in Victoria?

Victoria has a single type of acceptable check based on the Victorian Safety Screening Policy (Word, 490KB). Registered NDIS providers must comply with all relevant requirements in the Victorian Safety Screening Policy. These are  that the worker holds:

• Police record check; and
• Disability Worker Exclusion List Check; and
• VIC Working with children check if one was required under the Working with Children Act 2005 (being the applicable legislation prior to 1 February 2021).

Workers in risk assessed roles must have had an acceptable check prior to 1 February 2021 for a registered NDIS provider to have current safety screening that is in accordance with the Victorian Safety Screening Policy.

Workers engaged in a risk assessed role on or after 1 February 2021 by a new employer must apply for an NDIS check under the Worker Screening Act 2020. Under the Worker Screening Act 2020, a person who holds an NDIS clearance and who is engaged in ‘child-related work’ must also hold a WWC clearance.

How long can an acceptable check be relied on in Victoria?

Police record checks, Disability Worker Exclusion List Checks and Working with children checks can be relied upon as an acceptable check under transitional and special arrangements to work in a risk assessed role for a registered NDIS provider in Victoria until:

• 31 January 2022 for workers who hold a valid police check and Disability Worker Exclusion List Checks; or
• the expiry of the Working with children check for workers who hold a valid Police record check, Disability Worker Exclusion List Check and Working with children check.

Application for an NDIS Worker Screening Check

The Victorian Worker Screening Unit is the state government agency responsible for processing applications for the NDIS Worker Screening Check, including assessing applications and determining if a worker is issued with an NDIS Worker Screening Clearance or Exclusion. Applications for an NDIS Worker Screening Check are not processed or assessed by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Workers can apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check through Service Victoria. Enquiries about an application, including issues with the application process or the status of an application should be directed to the Victorian Worker Screening Unit.

More information and resources

There are a range of fact sheets, flowcharts, and quick reference guides on our website, as well as information that may assist you with the following enquiries:

• Who needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check
• What is a risk assessed role
• What is an acceptable check under the transition arrangements
• What is a valid acceptable check in my jurisdiction
• Can a worker commence in a risk assessed role without an NDIS Worker Screening Clearance
• What are the work on application arrangements in my jurisdiction.

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