For NDIS support providers, doing the NDIS Worker Screening Check is required by law. This process helps ensure that the NDIS support workers are safe when working with NDIS participants. This guide walks you through who needs it, how to apply, and what to do once you’ve got your results.

What is an NDIS Worker Screening Check?

The NDIS Worker Screening Check is a national background check that decides whether an NDIS support worker is safe to work with people with disability.

The NDIS screening check looks at things like criminal history, workplace misconduct, and other relevant records. If the person passes the check, they receive an NDIS worker screening clearance. If not, they are excluded from working in certain roles. Each state or territory has its own screening law and makes the final decision on clearance.

Who needs to get an NDIS Worker Screening Check?

All registered NDIS providers must make sure that NDIS support workers in risk-assessed roles have passed an NDIS Worker Screening Check. Risk-assessed roles include:

• Workers who have direct contact with participants — whether it’s physical, face-to-face, written, or electronic
• People delivering NDIS-funded support or services
• Key personnel — like CEOs, managers, executives, or board members

This applies to employees, contractors, consultants, and even volunteers in those roles. If you're a sole trader and registered with the NDIS, you need a clearance for yourself too.

While unregistered NDIS providers, self-managed and plan-managed participants aren’t legally required to use the NDIS worker screening check, many choose to do it as a best practice.

Good news: once you’re cleared in one state or territory, your clearance is valid across all of Australia. You don’t need to apply again when working interstate.

When do support workers need an NDIS Worker Screening Check?

Your NDIS support workers must have an NDIS Worker Screening Check if you are a registered NDIS provider, and before they start work in any risk-assessed role. If you are an unregistered provider, the screening check is optional — but it’s still strongly recommended. It builds trust and helps ensure the participant's safety.

In some states and territories, NDIS support workers can begin working after they’ve applied — as long as they are supervised. If this happens, the NDIS provider should keep evidence of the application, such as an application ID or acknowledgement. Don’t leave the support worker alone with participants until the formal clearance is confirmed.

In other states, like Queensland, a support worker must be fully cleared before starting any work. So it’s important to check the rules that apply in your state or territory.

How to apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check

Applying for the NDIS Worker Screening Check is done through your state or territory’s Worker Screening Unit. To start your application, go to the official Worker Screening Unit (WSU) website for the state or territory where you live or work. 

• New South Wales: NDIS Worker Check (NDISWC)
• Victoria: Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Queensland: Disability Worker Screening
• South Australia: Department of Human Services
• Western Australia: Department of Communities
• Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services
• Northern Territory: SAFE NT Online Services
• Australian Capital Territory: Access Canberra

This is where you’ll find the correct application form, instructions, and details about fees or extra requirements that may apply locally.

Check the ID requirements listed on your state or territory’s Worker Screening Unit website to make sure you have everything ready. Having your documents prepared in advance will help you avoid delays when completing the application.

After submitting your application, you’ll need to pay the required fee (if any). Once that’s done, you must link your application to your employer using the NDIS Worker Screening Database (NWSD). This lets the provider track your application and be notified when your clearance is granted. If you’re a sole trader, you’ll link the application to your own provider registration.

Keep a copy of your application receipt or ID number, especially if your state allows you to begin working under supervision before the clearance is finalised. Your employer will need this as proof.

What documents are required for NDIS Worker Screening Check

The documents required for support workers depend on your state or territory. Below is an example for New South Wales (NDISWC). For exact requirements, always visit your state’s Worker Screening Unit website.

Category A documents (provide at least 1)

• Australian birth certificate (full certificate, not an extract or birth card)
• Australian passport (private, official, or diplomatic)
• Australian visa (current and verified through Visa Entitlement Verification Online)
• Australian ImmiCard
• Australian citizenship certificate

Category B documents (provide at least 1)

• Australian driver licence, learner permit, or provisional licence
• Australian marriage certificate issued by a state or territory registry
• Australian change-of-name certificate issued by a state or territory registry
• Australian photo card (proof-of-age card) issued by a state or territory government
• Australian adult shooter or firearm licence (not a minor or junior permit/licence)
• Australian student ID card with signature or photo (only if under 18 years old)

Category C documents (provide at least 2)

• Medicare card
• Centrelink concession card, Australian health care card, or government-issued health care card
• Australian university or tertiary student photo ID card (if 18 or older)
• Academic transcript or completion certificate from an Australian university or tertiary institution
• Australian secondary student photo ID card
• Australian-issued bank, debit, or credit card
• Australian bank statement (issued within the last 12 months)
• Australian Tax Office notice of assessment (most recent financial year)
• Australian local council rates notice (issued within the last 12 months)
• Australian land valuation notice (issued within the last 12 months)
• Australian utility bill (gas, water, electricity, telephone, mobile phone, or internet, issued within the last 12 months)
• Passport issued by a country other than Australian passport

How long is the NDIS Worker Screening clearance valid?

Once the NDIS Worker Screening clearance is approved, it is valid for five years across all states and territories in Australia. You don’t need to reapply if you move to another state. If a new hire already has a valid clearance, NDIS providers don’t need them to do a new check.

Even with a clearance, it can still be suspended or revoked if a support worker is charged with a serious offence. Providers will be notified through the NDIS Worker Screening Database if a clearance is cancelled or its status changes.

It’s the worker’s responsibility to renew their clearance before it expires — but providers should also keep track of expiry dates. There is no grace period after expiry. If a clearance lapses, the person cannot continue working in a risk-assessed role until a new one is granted.

What happens if you get an exclusion result?

The support workers receive an exclusion when they don't pass the NDIS Worker Screening Check. In this case:

• The support worker can't deliver any risk-assessed role for a registered NDIS provider in any state or territory. The person’s status on the NDIS Worker Screening Database will show as “excluded,” which all providers can see when they check the person’s details.
• The person will receive formal notice of the exclusion outcome from the screening unit, and any registered NDIS provider that was linked to their application (e.g. an employer) will also be notified. Providers must immediately ensure the person is not working in a risk-assessed capacity upon receiving this notice.

The excluded support workers can appeal the decision. Until any successful appeal, the exclusion, the support workers are banned from any risk-assed role. An exclusion doesn't have an expiry date. It’s effectively indefinite unless the appeal is successful.

The support worker typically cannot reapply for an NDIS clearance for a certain period (e.g. 5 years in some jurisdictions) or at all, depending on the severity of the reason.

Manage your support worker clearance effectively with Pnyx

With the Pnyx, you can set up, monitor, and manage compliance across your entire team — all in one place.

• You can create and manage checks like the NDIS Worker Screening clearance or Police Checks, including tracking documents and expiry dates for all workers.
• Each staff member has a separate account to log in, view, and update their documents — reducing your team’s admin workload and keeping your staff accountable.
• You can quickly filter and search staff based on their check status: about to expire, failed a check, or missing documents.

On top of this feature, you also gain access to a quality management system for compliance management, incident reporting, and risk management.

Book a demo and explore how Pnyx helps you stay compliant and ready for audit.

Frequently asked questions

Can you start working before getting the screening clearance?

It depends on the rules in your state or territory. Some states allow workers to start after they’ve submitted their application, as long as they’re supervised and safeguards are in place. In those cases, providers must keep evidence of the application, like an application ID or confirmation receipt. Other states, like Queensland, require a full clearance before any work can begin.

Can volunteers apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check?

Yes. Volunteers who work in risk-assessed roles for registered NDIS providers must also hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening clearance. Even if a worker is unpaid, if their role involves direct or frequent contact with participants, the same rules apply.

Is there a difference between the NDIS Worker Screening Check and a Working with Children Check?

Yes. They are different checks with different purposes. The NDIS Worker Screening Check focuses on assessing a worker’s risk to people with disability, while a Working with Children Check assesses risk to children. In some cases, workers might need both depending on their role and the laws in their state or territory.

Can a worker start work before receiving their NDIS Worker Screening clearance?

It depends on the state or territory. Some allow a worker to start once the application has been submitted (with safeguards in place), while others require workers to hold a clearance before they begin in a risk-assessed role. Providers must check the rules for their location.

How long does it take to get an NDIS Worker Screening clearance?

It usually takes a few weeks, but the exact time can vary. If a worker has a complex criminal history or if further information is needed, it might take longer. Workers and employers should apply early to avoid delays in starting work.

What happens if a worker’s NDIS Worker Screening clearance is revoked?

If a worker’s clearance is revoked due to new risk information, they will be excluded from working in risk-assessed roles. Providers must act immediately to remove the worker from any such roles and update their records in the NDIS Worker Screening Database.