National Police Check in WA: cost, timing and what care employers accept
National Police Checks from WA Police in October 2026: $66, or $17.60 through the volunteer program, often back within minutes, and what care employers accept.
On this page
A WA Police Force National Police Certificate is a point-in-time check of police records across Australia, applied for online through Australia Post's verified ID portal. It costs $66, or $17.60 through the Volunteer National Police Certificate Program, and can arrive within minutes when nothing needs investigating. Aged Care accepts a National Police Check (Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check) issued within the last three years.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing body | WA Police Force | wa.gov.au |
| Official name | National Police Certificate (WA Police Force) | wa.gov.au |
| Validity | No period of validity: certificates are current as of the date of issue | wa.gov.au |
| Cost (employment) | $66 (from 1 July 2026) | wa.gov.au |
| Cost (volunteer) | $17.60, lodged by a registered volunteer-involving organisation through the Volunteer National Police Certificate Program | wa.gov.au |
| Processing time | Within minutes online when no further investigation is needed; within 15 working days for in-person applications that need postage | wa.gov.au |
| Renewal | No renewal: apply for a new check. Under the Aged Care Rules a National Police Check issued within the last 3 years is accepted, in every state and territory | health.gov.au |
| Scope | National: the check searches police records across Australia through the ACIC's National Police Checking Service, whichever police agency or accredited body submits it | acic.gov.au |
| Apply or renew | Apply online through the Australia Post verified ID portal | wa.gov.au |
| Status check or register | Scan the barcode or QR code on the printed electronic certificate with the Australia Post app | wa.gov.au |
| What an employer must do | Aged Care: hold, for every worker and responsible person, a National Police Check not older than 3 years (assessed for certain offences) or an NDIS Worker Screening Check | health.gov.au |
Fees and processing times change, most often once a year. The source column links to the official page each value was checked against in October 2026.
How to apply: National Police Check (WA)
- Apply online through the Australia Post verified ID portal. Only the applicant can complete the application, and applicants under 15 need a parent or guardian's consent.
- Prove your identity with 100 points of original documents. Copies are not accepted.
- Pay $66. There are no discounts or concessions for individuals.
- Most online certificates arrive within minutes. In-person applications that need postage take up to 15 working days.
- Volunteers do not apply directly: a registered volunteer-involving organisation submits the application through the program portal for $17.60, and a digital copy goes to both the organisation and the volunteer.
When you need a newer check
- A National Police Check does not renew. When an employer needs a more recent one, apply for a new check.
- For Aged Care, apply before your current check is three years old, or hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check instead and you will not need a National Police Check.
What employers must do
- Aged Care: hold either a National Police Check not older than three years or an NDIS Worker Screening Check for every worker and responsible person, and assess the check result for the offences that stop someone working for a registered provider (murder, sexual assault, and assault that led to imprisonment).
- Disability (NDIS): a risk-assessed role at a registered NDIS provider needs the NDIS Worker Screening Check (WA), which checks national criminal history and work misconduct history. A worker who holds it does not need a National Police Check for Aged Care either.
- Childcare: child-related work needs the WWC Card, which carries its own criminal history assessment.
- Ask to see the original certificate, and scan its barcode or QR code with the Australia Post app to verify it.
What is specific to Western Australia
- The Volunteer National Police Certificate Program is open to incorporated organisations that register with the Department of Communities. Volunteer applications are processed in about six business days, or up to 15 days if further investigation is needed.
- The printed electronic certificate carries a barcode or QR code that the Australia Post app can verify.
- Child-related work in WA needs a WWC Card from the Department of Communities, which carries its own criminal history screening.
What Koora checks
Reviewed. Koora reviews a National Police Check the worker uploads: a person looks at the check result when the worker shares their Career Passport or a provider requests access, or across an organisation's own records where Crew is attached. Koora does not verify an uploaded check with the WA Police Force. The compliance engine records the issue date, so a provider can see when a check passes the three-year age Aged Care accepts.
Your team reviews each credential in Koora, or Crew does it for you. The provider keeps the legal responsibility for who they engage.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a police check in WA?
$66 from the WA Police Force from 1 July 2026, with no discounts or concessions for individuals. Volunteers pay $17.60 when a registered organisation lodges the application through the Volunteer National Police Certificate Program.
How long does a WA police clearance take?
Online applications that need no further investigation can be delivered within minutes. In-person applications that need postage take up to 15 working days.
How long is a National Police Check from WA Police valid?
WA Police imposes no period of validity: the check is current as of its date of issue. Aged Care accepts a National Police Check not older than three years.
How can an employer confirm a National Police Check from WA Police is genuine?
Scan the barcode or QR code on the printed electronic certificate with the Australia Post app, and ask to see the original.
Related
- Do you need a new police check for a new care job?
- National Police Check in every state and territory: the comparison table
- Working with Children Check (WA) in Western Australia
- NDIS Worker Screening Check (WA) in Western Australia
- Teacher registration (WA) in Western Australia
- Glossary: National Police Check
- Which worker check do I need?: pick your sector, role and state
Sources
- https://www.wa.gov.au/service/justice/criminal-law/apply-national-police-certificate
- https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/western-australia-police-force/wa-police-force-information-access-fees
- https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/volunteer-national-police-certificate-program
- https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-03/aged-care-worker-screening-guidance-material_0.pdf
- https://www.acic.gov.au/national-police-checking-service/find-out-more-information/how-service-works
- https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care-workforce/screening-requirements
This is general information, not compliance advice. Always confirm requirements with the relevant regulator, and remember that providers keep the legal responsibility to sight credentials and decide who can work.
We work hard to keep everything accurate, and our compliance engine keeps up with the rules as they change. Even so, we might get a detail slightly wrong or miss something. No one's perfect. If you think something here needs updating, email us at resources@koora.care. We would genuinely rather know, because we all do better when we help each other get it right.
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