- Last updated:October 20, 2026
Quick Answer
A free police check isn’t available for paid work in Australia. Every National Police Check carries a fee, so a “free” check only happens when someone else pays. The main exceptions are volunteers in South Australia working with vulnerable people, whose checks are paid for by the SA Government, and job seekers whose Workforce Australia provider covers the cost. Everyone else can cut the cost with a volunteer rate, an employer reimbursement or a tax deduction. With Rapid Screening, a volunteer check costs $26.95 and an employment check $56.90, including GST.
We all love a bargain. In 2026, where a standard oat latte sets you back $8, and rent is… well, let’s not talk about rent… searching for a free police check makes total sense. You’re likely on the cusp of an exciting new job, a volunteer role, or a promotion, and the last thing you want is another onboarding fee.
But here’s the straight talk: if you’re looking for a 100% official, ACIC-accredited National Police Check for general employment without spending a cent, you’re chasing a unicorn. At Rapid Screening, we’re all about transparency, so let’s look at who can genuinely get a free police check, why “free” websites can be dangerous, and how everyone else can get the best value.
The Million Dollar Question: Can You Get a Police Check in Australia for Free?
The short answer is: No, not for general employment. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), which manages the National Police Checking Service, charges a fee for every single search against their database. Whether you go through a state police branch or a private provider like us, that wholesale cost exists.
It’s a big system to run. In 2024-25 alone, the ACIC processed more than 7.26 million police checks, the highest number since the national system began in 2012.
Who Can Actually Get a Free Police Check?
A small number of people genuinely pay nothing, because someone else covers the fee:
| Who | How it works | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers in South Australia working with vulnerable people | Apply through an organisation with a Volunteer Organisation Authorisation Number (VOAN). The SA Government pays the fee. | Nothing |
| Job seekers with a Workforce Australia provider | Ask your provider or Workforce Australia to help pay for the police check as a work-related cost. | Nothing, if approved |
| New employees | Your employer pays for the check or reimburses you. | Nothing, or reimbursed |
| Volunteers in other states | You pay a reduced volunteer rate, or your organisation pays it for you. | A reduced fee, or nothing if the organisation pays |
Why Most Workers Pay for a National Police Check
The infrastructure required to maintain, update, and secure the criminal records of millions of Australians is massive. When you submit a check, you are paying for:
- Access to the ACIC database: a secure government system that searches police records in every state and territory.
- Identity verification: your ID documents are checked against government records through the Document Verification Service (DVS).
- Manual vetting: about 30% of checks are referred to police so an officer can review possible matches by hand.
Because these costs are built into the system, anyone promising a completely free police check for paid work is likely either misinformed or, worse, running a scam.
Free Police Check for Volunteers
If your hunt for a free police check is for a community service role, you’re in luck, sort of. Governments recognise the value of volunteers and offer a significant concession on the base fee.
Volunteer Concessions
In most Australian states, if you are volunteering in a 100% unpaid role with a not-for-profit organisation, the cost of the check is drastically reduced. In some specific cases, the organisation might pay the fee on your behalf. In that scenario, it is a free Australian police check for you, even though someone else is footing the bill.
South Australia goes further. According to South Australia Police, police checks for volunteers who work with vulnerable groups, such as children, older people or people with disability, are provided free of charge through organisations that hold a VOAN. The scheme doesn’t cover paid staff of those organisations. Volunteers with organisations that don’t qualify can pay a reduced volunteer fee instead.
Volunteer Police Check Discounts by State
| State | Free police check? | Volunteer discount on offer |
|---|---|---|
| South Australia | Yes, for volunteers working with vulnerable groups through a VOAN organisation | Reduced volunteer fee for other volunteers |
| Victoria | No | Service Victoria offers a discounted fee ($31.10 instead of $91.50) for eligible volunteers |
| Western Australia | No | Reduced fee through organisations registered for Volunteer National Police Certificates |
| NSW, QLD, TAS, NT, ACT | No | Volunteer rate available through accredited providers, such as Rapid Screening’s $26.95 volunteer check |
Searching for a free police check in Victoria, NSW or Queensland? There isn’t one for paid work, but a volunteer check through an accredited provider costs much less than a standard check. Our guide to volunteer police checks explains who qualifies.
Limitations of Volunteer Checks
It’s important to note that a volunteer check is legally different from an employment check. You cannot use a volunteer clearance to get a paid job at a bar, a bank, or a hospital. If you try to save money by using a volunteer check for a paid role, it will be flagged as invalid during the compliance audit.
The Free Trap: Why Your Data Is the Real Currency
If you stumble across a website or an app promising a free police check, your internal scam-o-metre should be hitting the red zone.
The Risk of Identity Theft
To do a police check, you have to provide 100 points of ID, including documents like your passport, driver licence and Medicare card. If a site that isn’t accredited offers a free police check, it is essentially asking you to hand over the keys to your identity. You might never receive a certificate, and your details could be misused or sold.
Fake Certificates
Some “free” sites may produce a document that looks like an official certificate. An employer that checks it with the issuing provider will quickly find it isn’t genuine, and presenting a fake document can cost you the job and land you in legal trouble. Before you upload anything, check the provider is on the ACIC’s list of accredited bodies.
How to Get Your Police Check Paid For or Reimbursed
If you’re still determined to get a free police check, the most common way is through someone else paying. Instead of looking for a service that doesn’t charge, look for someone who’ll cover the cost.
Ask Your Employer
When you receive your job offer, ask, “Does the company have a preferred provider for background screening, or should I provide my own and submit the receipt for reimbursement?” Many mid- to large-sized companies in Australia have a budget for this. Employers who screen lots of staff can also set up a business account so candidates never pay at all.
Ask Workforce Australia
If you’re receiving JobSeeker or Youth Allowance and are with Workforce Australia, you can ask for help to pay for work-related costs, which include police checks. Ask your provider, or request it through your Workforce Australia account, before you pay.
Claim It at Tax Time
If your employer won’t pay for it, the cost of a police check required for your current job may be a tax-deductible work expense. While it’s not exactly a free police check, you’ll get part of the cost back at tax time. Our guide on whether you can claim a police check on tax explains when it applies.
How Much Is a Police Check If It Isn’t Free?
| Check | Rapid Screening price | Applying direct |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer police check | $26.95 inc. GST ($24.50 + GST) | Victoria: $31.10 discounted (Service Victoria) |
| Employment police check | $56.90 inc. GST ($51.73 + GST) | Victoria: $91.50 standard (Service Victoria) |
| AFP police check (visas, overseas) | $72.90 (GST free, includes postage) | $57 name only, $114 with fingerprints (AFP) |
For a full breakdown of prices across providers and states, see our guide to the cost of a police check in Australia.
The Opportunity Cost: Why Value Trumps Free
Time is the one thing we can’t buy more of. If you spend days searching for a free police check, it may already be costing you money.
The Cost of Waiting
Checks referred for manual review can take 10 to 15 business days. If your new job pays $1,500 a week and you’re waiting two weeks for a slow check to clear, that check has effectively cost you $3,000 in lost wages.
The Rapid Screening Advantage
At Rapid Screening, we don’t offer a free police check, but we do offer a check that pays for itself in speed.
- Fast: 70% of our checks are returned within 2 to 4 hours.
- 100% online: no post office queues or paper forms.
- Secure: your data is encrypted and handled by an ACIC-accredited Australian team.
Getting your results on Monday morning so you can start work on Monday afternoon is a much better financial move than waiting weeks for a budget option. You can apply for a National Police Check online in a few minutes.
How to Get a Police Check for the Lowest Cost
- Check if someone else will pay. Ask your employer, volunteer organisation or Workforce Australia provider before you apply.
- Choose the right check type. Use a volunteer check only for unpaid roles, an employment check for paid work, and an AFP check for visas or overseas purposes.
- See if you qualify for a free or discounted volunteer check. In South Australia, ask whether your organisation has a VOAN. Elsewhere, ask about the volunteer rate.
- Apply online through an ACIC-accredited provider. Have your 100 points of ID ready so your application isn’t delayed.
- Keep your receipt. You’ll need it for an employer reimbursement or a tax deduction.
For a full walkthrough, see our step-by-step guide to getting a police check.
State vs. National: Does Location Affect the Price?
Whether you are looking for a free police check in NSW, Victoria or WA, the basic rule is the same: the check carries a fee unless someone else pays it. Prices vary if you apply directly through a state police service, but a National Police Check from an accredited provider costs the same wherever you live.
One Search, All States
You don’t need a separate check for every state you’ve lived in. One National Police Check covers everything, because it searches police records in every state and territory at once.
Conclusion: Value Over Free
Searching for a free police check is a natural impulse, and for some people it’s possible: volunteers in South Australia working with vulnerable people, job seekers supported by Workforce Australia, and anyone whose employer or organisation covers the fee. For most paid work, though, a free police check doesn’t exist, and websites claiming otherwise put your identity at risk.
By choosing a trusted, ACIC-accredited provider like Rapid Screening, you’re paying for a fast turnaround, secure handling of your ID and the peace of mind of a genuine certificate. If you can’t get a free police check, a volunteer rate, employer reimbursement or tax deduction will usually bring the real cost right down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There Any Way to Get a Police Check in Australia for Free?
Only if your employer or volunteer organisation pays for it on your behalf. The ACIC always charges a fee at the source, so a free check just means someone else is paying the bill. In South Australia, for example, the state government pays for police checks for volunteers who work with vulnerable groups through an organisation with a Volunteer Organisation Authorisation Number (VOAN).
Is a National Police Check Free for Volunteers?
Not usually, but it costs much less. Volunteers pay a reduced rate, such as $26.95 including GST with Rapid Screening. In South Australia, volunteers working with vulnerable groups through a VOAN organisation pay nothing.
Is There a Free Police Check in Victoria?
No. Victoria doesn’t offer free police checks, but Service Victoria offers a discounted fee of $31.10 for eligible volunteers instead of the standard $91.50.
Why Do Some Sites Look Like They Offer a Police Check in Australia for Free?
These are often marketing leads or, in worst-case scenarios, phishing scams. They may offer a free initial search but will charge you once they have your data, or they may simply be harvesting your identity documents.
What Is the Cheapest Police Check?
A volunteer check is the cheapest type, but it can only be used for unpaid roles. With Rapid Screening, a volunteer check costs $26.95 and an employment check $56.90, both including GST.
How Much Does an Online Police Check Cost?
An online National Police Check for employment through Rapid Screening costs $56.90 including GST. A volunteer check costs $26.95 including GST.
Is the Cost of the Check the Same in Every State?
Yes, for a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, the cost is generally consistent across Australia when using a private provider, as it is a federal level search. If you apply directly through a state police service, the fee is set by that state, so it can differ.
Can I Use My Volunteer Check for a Paid Job?
No. Volunteer checks are issued under a specific code and are usually clearly marked. Most employers will reject a volunteer check for a paid position.
What Is a National Police Check?
A National Police Check, officially a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, lists any disclosable court outcomes and pending charges from every Australian state and territory.
Is Crime Check the Same as Police Check?
Yes. “Crime check”, “criminal record check” and “police check” usually all mean a National Police Check.
What Is the Fastest Way to Get Police Clearance?
Apply online through an ACIC-accredited provider. With Rapid Screening, 70% of checks are returned within 2 to 4 hours.
How Much Is an International Police Check?
If you need an Australian police certificate for overseas purposes, such as a visa, you need an AFP check. It costs $57 for a name-only check directly from the AFP, or $72.90 including postage through Rapid Screening. Police checks from other countries are priced by that country.
How Long Does an International Police Check Take?
The AFP completes most name-only checks within 48 hours. Checks that need fingerprints take 15 to 30 business days. Checks from other countries vary.
Can I Get a Police Clearance at the Post Office?
In some states, yes. In Western Australia, for example, you can lodge a police check application through Australia Post. Applying online through an accredited provider is usually faster.
How Long Does a Rapid Screening Check Take?
70% of our checks are completed in 2 to 4 hours. If your check is referred for manual vetting by the police, it can take 1 to 15 business days.
Do I Need to Go to a Police Station?
Not in 2026! Our process is 100% online. You can complete your check from your phone while sitting on the bus or during your lunch break.
What Is the 100-Point ID Requirement?
You need to provide documents from four categories: Commencement, Primary, and two Secondary documents.
Is My Data Safe with Rapid Screening?
Absolutely. We use 256-bit encryption and comply with the Australian Privacy Principles. We are a government accredited body, meaning we are regularly audited for security and compliance.
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