What Are Pre Employment Checks?
A pre employment check in Australia is also called employment screening or background checking. Many different checks are available. These include checks that investigate an individual’s criminal history, citizenship status, qualifications, references, previous employment, professional memberships, security clearance, working with children, and more.
The employer usually determines the required checks, but some employment background checks are mandatory under legislation. Employers use pre employment checks to help make informed decisions about hiring the right person for the job. They can also guard against candidates who embellish or falsify information in their resumes or give fake references.
Employers may also conduct employment screening on an ongoing basis to reduce risk and help maintain a safe workplace.
Online pre employment screening platforms like fit2work make it possible for employers to screen new candidates quickly and efficiently manage their ongoing screening programs.
What do pre employment checks in Australia include?
What is included in a pre employment check depends on the type of check. Different checks may be relevant to different industries and job requirements. For example, for some professions and occupations, police checks on candidates and employees are required by law. Background checks should be relevant to the core functions and risks of the job. Our eBook Understanding Background Screening in the Business steps employers through assessing which background checks are applicable to different organisational roles. Here are some examples of pre employment checks and what they include:
Identity check
An identity or document verification check is a secure and trusted way to verify the authenticity of primary ID sources like passports and licences. Verifying an individual’s identity is critical to ensure that a person is who they claim to be. It is a mandatory part of a police check. A fit2work pre-employment identity check uses the national Document Verification Service (DVS). This secure online system enables authorised agencies to match key details in Australian-issued identity documents with government records.
Police checks
A national police check or Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) looks at state police records for any criminal convictions under state laws. Details of an individual’s disclosable court outcomes are listed, such as traffic convictions, Children’s Court convictions, good behaviour bonds and similar court orders.
An Australian Federal Police Check or AFP check looks at commonwealth police records for conviction under federal regulations. This check is usually required for immigration, public sector employment and overseas travel visa applications. Go to fit2work online police check.
Citizenship or residency status
A Right to Work or Entitlement to Work in Australia check provides an employer with confirmation that the candidate is a citizen, permanent resident, or on a temporary visa. Employers face penalties if they employ a foreign national who doesn’t have a visa or is in breach of their visa conditions. Go to fit2work citizenship or residency pre-employment check
Formal qualifications check
Checks of academic qualifications and professional membership status help employers verify the accuracy of a candidate’s claims about their career attainments. For example, a fit2work pre-employment academic qualification check confirms where the candidate received their qualifications, attendance and graduation dates, and the level of academic achievement reached.
Working with Children
Often if the role involves working or volunteering with children, the candidate will need to undergo a working with children check. Working With Children clearance is valid for five years, and it involves a national police check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct.
Health assessment
Pre-employment health assessments range from screening for drugs and alcohol to assessing a candidate’s medical or physical suitability for the demands of specific job tasks. For example, a fit2work pre-employment medical assessment includes an occupational and medical history, a medical examination and basic musculoskeletal assessment, a body mass index measurement, urinalysis and visual acuity test.
Referee check
Employers use online reference checking as a fast, convenient way to check the validity of candidate references. A fit2work pre-employment online reference check uses Xref digital assessment technology to automate the reference process. Employers use the platform to request the candidate to send details of their referees, who are then automatically contacted via email and invited to input their responses via a secure online portal at a time that suits them.
How much does a pre employment background check cost?
The cost of a background check in Australia depends on the type of check and the provider you use. An online police check with fit2work costs $49.90 or the discounted rate of $24.90 for students and volunteers.
Employers can opt for bundled or custom solutions that cater to the volume and frequency of their background screening requirements.
How long do pre employment checks take?
The turnaround times for Australian background checks vary from 15 minutes to 15 working days. Up to 70% of police checks with fit2work are returned within 15 minutes of submitting online. For employment history checks, the turnaround is between 1 to 5 working days. For international police checks, the turnaround is within 5 to 15 working days.
The rise of online platforms for background checking and direct access to key third-party databases has vastly improved screening turnaround times. At the same time, automated reference check systems make it easier for employers to hire with confidence, balancing risk against workplace safety, reputation management and compliance requirements.
Contact fit2work from Equifax to choose from a vast range of single checks or bundled report packages. We are Australia’s longest-running provider of employee background screening and online police checks. With our Australian-based support team and the bulk upload functionality of our online platform, it’s fast and easy to order a pre employment background check with fit2work.
The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstance before acting on it, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a finance professional such as an adviser.