Registration
NDIS worker screening explained
Who needs a clearance, how to check one, and what to do when it expires.
An NDIS worker screening check assesses whether someone poses an unacceptable risk of harm to people with disability. A clearance is issued by the worker screening unit in a state or territory and is recognised nationally.
Who needs one
Registered providers must make sure people in risk-assessed roles hold a clearance. That generally includes anyone whose normal duties involve more than incidental contact with participants, and your key personnel — the people who own, direct or make significant decisions about the business. If you are a sole trader delivering supports, that includes you.
How to check a clearance properly
Do not accept a photo of a card or someone's word for it. As the provider you should:
- Verify the clearance through the checking arrangements available to registered providers
- Record the clearance number, the state or territory that issued it, and the expiry date
- Link the worker to your business where that is required, so you are told if their status changes
- Re-check status periodically, not just on the day they start
Expiry and status changes
Clearances are valid for a set period unless they are suspended or revoked. Track expiry dates in your worker register so a renewal is never a surprise. If a clearance is suspended, excluded or expires, the worker must not continue in a risk-assessed role. Write down what you would do in that situation — auditors ask.
Working with children checks
Depending on your state or territory and the participants you support, a working with children check may also be required. This is separate from NDIS worker screening. If it does not apply to your supports, record that and why.
What auditors look for
They usually pick a worker from your register and follow the trail: the clearance number, the date you verified it, the expiry, and what happens next. A register with blank expiry columns is a common finding.
Requirements differ between states and territories, so check the current information published by the Commission and your state or territory worker screening unit.
