Every person working directly with NDIS participants in Queensland must hold an NDIS Worker Screening clearance. It's a criminal history check conducted by the Queensland government, and it's a basic safety requirement for working in the sector. This guide explains what the check covers, who needs it, and why it matters.

What NDIS Worker Screening is

NDIS Worker Screening is a national framework, with screening done at state level. In Queensland, applications go through the Queensland Worker Screening Unit, part of the Office of Industrial Relations.

The check looks at:

National criminal history (police checks across all states).

Civil and disciplinary records held by professional regulators.

Findings from previous workplace investigations.

Information from disability and child protection registers.

Visa and identity verification.

Each application is assessed against a set of risk criteria. People with histories that raise concerns about safety in disability work — particularly involving violence, abuse, or exploitation — are refused clearance. People without those concerns are cleared.

Clearances are valid for five years. They're portable across providers — meaning a worker who moves between employers keeps the same clearance.

Who needs it

Every worker delivering direct, hands-on support to NDIS participants needs a clearance.

This includes:

Support workers (personal care, household, community).

Allied health professionals working with NDIS participants (OTs, physios, psychologists).

Support coordinators.

Behaviour support practitioners.

Plan management staff who interact directly with participants.

SDA and SIL staff.

Volunteers in roles involving direct participant contact.

Workers can't legally provide direct support without a clearance. A worker with a pending clearance application can sometimes work in supervised roles, but unsupervised support requires the clearance to be granted.

How to check if your worker has it

You can ask your provider directly. They have an obligation to verify clearances and should be able to confirm immediately.

If you have concerns or want to verify, the Worker Screening Unit can confirm whether a specific worker has a current clearance. Contact them through the Queensland Government's worker screening website.

If a worker can't confirm they have a clearance, that's a red flag. Don't accept ongoing support from someone whose clearance isn't current.

What it covers and what it doesn't

What screening catches:

Most criminal history relevant to disability work.

Past workplace investigations and disciplinary actions.

Identity issues, fraud-related issues.

Most concerning patterns of behaviour that have been formally reported.

What screening doesn't catch:

Behaviour that hasn't been reported or formally investigated.

Personal characteristics that may make a worker a poor fit (unprofessionalism, poor communication, laziness, dishonesty in non-criminal ways).

Performance issues with previous employers that weren't formal complaints.

A clearance is a baseline. It doesn't mean a worker is good — it means they've passed a minimum check. Quality of service is a separate matter that comes down to provider hiring, training, supervision, and ongoing performance management.

What to do if you have concerns about a worker

If you have concerns about a specific worker:

Talk to your provider first. Most issues can be resolved internally. Speak to the worker's supervisor or the organisation's complaints contact.

If serious, contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Phone 1800 035 544. They can investigate, and they have power to revoke clearances if warranted.

For criminal matters, contact police. Don't wait for the Commission process — assault, theft, sexual misconduct, or financial exploitation are matters for police regardless of any other process.

The Worker Screening Unit reviews all reportable incidents involving cleared workers. A cleared worker who's involved in serious incidents may have their clearance reconsidered.

Frequently asked questions

Can a worker start before clearance is granted?

In some cases, with supervision. But unsupervised direct support requires clearance.

How long do clearances take?

Usually 2–8 weeks, sometimes longer for complex cases.

What does it cost?

There's an application fee (around $138 for paid workers, $0 for volunteers). Workers usually pay the fee themselves; some employers cover it.

Does a clearance from another state count in Queensland?

NDIS Worker Screening is a national system, so clearances are recognised across states. But if you're working in Queensland, it's verified through the Queensland system.

If you want to verify a Seareal worker's clearance or have any concerns about a worker we've sent, contact us directly. We're transparent about our compliance and we take concerns seriously.