An NDIS worker screening check is where a State or Territory worker screening unit assesses an NDIS worker and decides if they are ‘cleared’ or ‘excluded’ from working with people with disability. Employing workers with an NDIS worker screening clearance enhances the safety of the NDIS supports and services you provide.
Unregistered providers and worker screening
Unregistered providers aren’t legally required to ask their staff to have an NDIS worker screening clearance, but you can choose to do so.
The NDIS Commission recommends that unregistered providers make sure all their workers have an NDIS worker screening clearance. This is for the safety, wellbeing, and peace of mind of the NDIS participants you support.
- Self-managed and plan-managed participants can decide if the workers that support them must have a worker screening clearance.
- Workers are subject to on-going monitoring while they hold a valid NDIS worker screening clearance. You can monitor the screening status of workers in the NDIS worker screening database and identify any changes.
How do I make sure my workers have a current NDIS worker screening clearance?
The NDIS Worker Screening Database is a national register of all NDIS workers who have completed or applied for the NDIS Worker Screening Check. After each worker is assessed, the database is updated with their details and their ‘cleared’ or ‘excluded’ status.
When you require your staff to have an NDIS worker screening clearance, you will use the database to:
- identify the NDIS workers that work for your organisation
- check and monitor the clearance status of your workers
- ‘confirm’ the workers who’ve applied for a screening check and nominated you as their employer.
Get access to the NDIS worker screening database (NWSD)
Unregistered providers need to apply for access to the ‘Unregistered providers portal’ to use the worker screening database.
- Apply for access to the NDIS worker screening database
The last step in these instructions will generate an email with a link and instructions to finalise your access application. If that link expires or doesn’t work, follow the instructions in
Finalise access to the database once your application has been approved - Log in to the NDIS worker screening database once your access has been finalised.
If you already have access to the portal, you can log in by using the button below. You can also log in to the portal through the menu at the top right of this screen.
Identify the workers in your organisation
Before you check the NDIS worker screening status of a worker, they need to be linked to your organisation. You can only link workers that have already applied for a worker screening check.
- Use Link or unlink a worker. You’ll need the workers last name and Working Screening ID or Application ID.
- Once they’re linked, you can see their worker screening status on the ‘My workers’ page. The status will be one of the following:
- Clearance – the worker has a current clearance
- Pending – the worker has applied but a decision hasn’t been made Interim bar – the worker has applied but must not work with people with disability while waiting for the decision
- Exclusion – the worker must not work in specific roles with people with disability
- Suspension – the worker must not work with people with disability while their clearance is being reassessed
- No valid clearance – the worker doesn’t have a clearance.
- An NDIS worker screening clearance can expire or change to be excluded or suspended. You can periodically check your workers to make sure their clearance is still valid.
Guide a worker to apply for an NDIS worker screening check
If a worker needs to apply for a clearance, you’ll be part of their application process.
- The worker needs to identify you as their employer in their application. They will either search for you in the online application form, or they’ll need to add your employer ID to their application.
- If they are entering your employer ID, you can find it to provide to the worker, using either:
- Once they’ve applied online, you’ll need to verify that you intend for them to provide NDIS supports and services within your organisation using Verify or reject a screening verification request.
Workers need to pay a fee to get their worker screening check. Only ask a worker to apply and give them your Employer ID if you’re genuinely intending to employ them.
Expiry of worker screening checks
An NDIS worker screening check is valid for 5 years. When a worker is linked to you in the Unregistered provider portal, you’ll receive a notification when their worker screening check is expiring soon.
See View requests and notifications in the portal inbox: Unregistered providers for instructions on accessing your notifications.
For more information see Renew your NDIS worker screening check.
Help
If you need technical help with the NDIS Commission Portals, you can:
- see our NDIS Commission Portal Quick Reference Guides
- use the NDIS Commission Portal technical help form.
For other enquiries please Contact us.