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    AusCheck background checking

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    Hi. I’m Jim Anderson. I have the privilege of leading AusCheck Branch.

     

    AusCheck delivers background checking and identity security capability to help critical infrastructure operators treat trusted-insider risks from terrorism, foreign interference, espionage and serious crime. We refer to this as a Trusted Insider Check.

     

    AusCheck does Trusted Insider Checks for:

    • the Aviation and Maritime Security Identification Card (ASIC and MSIC) schemes
    • The Security Sensitive Biological Agents scheme
    • Major National Events like the upcoming International Cricket Council T20 World Cup 2022 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

     

    In the future, AusCheck will also be available to deliver Trusted Insider Checks for other critical infrastructure sectors as authorised by the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act.

     

    AusCheck also issues ASICs and MSICs to government employees.

     

    Some schemes like ASICs and MSICs result in a card being issued, however, most schemes simply undertake Trusted Insider Checks without a card being issued.

     

    If you need a Trusted Insider Check from AusCheck, you’ll need to:

    • complete and lodge an application
    • prove you are who you say you are by:
      • providing your original identity documents that we’ll electronically verify
      • attending an in-person identity verification interview.

     

    As part of the background check, The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation will assess any threat you may pose to national security.

     

    The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will collect your Australian criminal history information through their National Police Checking Service, then give it to AusCheck for assessing.

     

    If you’re in Australia, or coming to Australia on a visa, AusCheck can also check your visa entitlements including your right to work in Australia.

     

    Just under 80% of all background checks are completed within 10 business days; including the identity checks, ASIO assessments, criminal history assessments and visa checks.

     

    In the aviation and maritime security sectors, if you’ve been found to be ineligible to be issued an ASIC or MSIC because of your criminal history, you can ask the Department to take other things into account and we call that “the Discretionary process.”

     

    There is no Discretionary process for the Security Sensitive Biological Agents scheme or the Major National Events scheme.

     

    There’s lots more information on AusCheck’s website so I encourage you to check it out and, if you have any questions, our contact details are there. Feel free to call us or send us an email and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.

     

    Thanks for watching.


    Overview

    AusCheck conducts background checking services for the:

    These are authorised by the AusCheck Act 2007.

    We coordinate criminal and national security background checking and identify individuals who are not eligible for unsupervised access to secure areas of aviation, maritime, national health, and critical infrastructure or MNE facilities.

    AusCheck operates on a cost recovery basis and maintains a comprehensive database of all applicants and cardholders.

    For more information see AusCheck.

    Access to the AusCheck database

    Issuing body access

    Issuing bodies and maritime industry participants authorised to issue temporary MSICs or that control access to secure areas have limited access to the AusCheck database. This is to allow them to check the validity of an ASIC or MSIC at any given time. Only the information that is visible on an ASIC or MSIC will be disclosed in these circumstances.

    Find out more about and MISC issuing bodies and ASIC issuing bodies.

    Government authorities' access

    Information about you may be disclosed to Commonwealth, state, and territory authorities. This occurs if they require access for the purpose of performing functions relating to law enforcement or national security.

    Your access

    You have the right to access the personal information that AusCheck holds about you.

    You also have the right to ask for any changes needed to make your personal information correct, complete, and not misleading.

    To make an access or correction request, contact privacy@homeaffairs.gov.au.

    AusCheck cannot change your:

    • criminal record
    • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) security assessment
    • immigration assessment.

    If you believe your criminal record check results are incorrect, you need to apply for correction with the relevant police service.

    Challenges to your security assessment should be made directly to ASIO.

    If you disagree with your immigration status, contact AusCheck and we will connect you with the appropriate area of the Department of Home Affairs.

    AusCheck's Privacy Notice

    When you apply for a background check under the AusCheck scheme, or any of the schemes for which AusCheck provides background checking services, the Privacy Notice explains:

    • what personal information is collected about you
    • how your personal information will be used
    • where you can find out more information.

    Find out more about Auscheck Privacy.​​​

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