Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check

You may have heard of National Police Checks, or been asked to get one for a job, volunteer role, or visa application. In Australia, there are two main types, and the right one depends on what you need it for.

National Police Checks (NCCHC) are coordinated by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and cover disclosable court outcomes and pending charges across every state and territory. This is the check most Australian employers, licensing bodies, and volunteer organisations ask for — it covers general employment, industry licensing, aged care, childcare-adjacent roles, and more.

AFP Coordinated Criminal History Checks are issued directly by the Australian Federal Police and are typically required for immigration, visa applications, Commonwealth government roles, overseas employment, and adoption. They're not "more secure" or "more accurate" than a National Police Check — both draw on the same underlying criminal history records — they're simply issued by a different body for a different purpose, and some visa or Commonwealth processes specifically require the AFP-issued version.

So which one do you need? If you're applying for a job, volunteer position, or licence in Australia, a National Police Check is almost always what's required. If you're dealing with immigration, a visa, or a Commonwealth role, check whether the organisation specifically asks for an AFP check instead.