Your NDISWC is a digital credential. We do not issue certificates or cards. 

You view and manage your NDISWC online in your MyServiceNSW account.

You need to log in from the Service NSW website. The NDISWC is not available on the Service NSW mobile phone app.

You can view your NDISWC:

• number
• status
• expiry date
• contact details (residential address, email address, phone number).

You can also:

• apply and reapply
• update your contact details (residential address, email address, phone number).
• add an NDIS employer (if your application has not yet been verified)
• request to cancel your application or clearance
• request a review (if we have made a decision that is reviewable).

To link your NDISWC to a MyServiceNSW account:

• log in to your new MyServiceNSW account from the website (not mobile phone app) 
• go to ’Add services’ and select ‘NDIS Worker Check’
• select ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Do you currently hold a NSW NDISWC, or have you ever previously applied in NSW?’
• enter the following 5 details: First name, Last name, Date of birth, NDISWC number, Email address or Phone number or Town of birth.
   

If the details match those registered on your NDISWC, it will link it to your MyServiceNSW account. You can then view and transact with your NDISWC.

If your details have changed but you haven't updated them with us, you might need to try a previous email address or phone number.

We contact you by email (primary) and mobile phone (secondary). You need to keep your contact details up to date.

Your legal obligations

It's a legal requirement to advise us of any changes in your details within 3 months. This is under section 18 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Worker Checks) Act 2018. This includes changes to your name, address, email and phone details. This applies to people who have been issued an NDISWC clearance.

To update your details:

• log in to your MyServiceNSW account (on the website, not the mobile phone app)
• go to 'NDIS Worker Check'
• go to 'Update contact details'.
   

Use your personal email address and personal mobile phone number, rather than your work contact details. We may be contacting you about personal and sensitive information about you and your history. If you change jobs, you may not receive important communication from us about your NDISWC.

Update your name

If you have legally changed your name, or the name on your NDISWC is not correct, send us an email and we will let you know what you need to do.

Email: contact@ndiswc.nsw.gov.au

You view your NSW NDISWC application in your MyServiceNSW account. Your NDISWC is only available on the Service NSW website (not on the mobile phone app).

To see the status of your application, log in to your MyServiceNSW account and select NDIS Worker Check from the dashboard. 

Your application status will be one of the following.

• Draft
• Visit a service centre
• Under review
• Pending verification
• Under assessment
• Risk assessment
   

What these terms mean

Draft

• You have started the online application, but not yet completed it.
• You have 28 days from when you start the online application to complete it and then visit a service centre.

Visit a service centre

• You have completed the online application and now need to visit a Service NSW centre.
• You need to take your application number and selected identity documents for sighting, have your photo taken, and pay the application fee.

Under review

• Your application has been submitted to us by Service NSW.
• We are reviewing your application to confirm you are eligible to apply and your application is valid. 
• Some applicants may be contacted by us (by email) to provide additional information.

Pending verification

• We have uploaded your application to the NDIS Worker Screening Database and it is awaiting verification by your NDIS employer.
• Your application must be verified by at least one NDIS employer to progress.
• If your application is not verified by an NDIS employer within 30 days, we will send you an email to tell you what you can do to rectify this. 

Under assessment

• We are conducting our background checks for any criminal, workplace or other records in your history.

or

• We have completed our background checks and we are reviewing any records to determine if they are (or not) of concern or relevance to assessing risk of harm to people with disability.

Risk assessment

• We have identified records in your history that may be of concern or relevance to assessing risk of harm to people with disability.
• We are gathering information from police, courts, other government agencies or third parties to better understand the detail or circumstances of your records.
• If our risk assessment determines that you pose a risk of harm to people with disability, you will receive a Proposed Exclusion Notice. You will have 28 days to submit information to us before a final decision is made.

More information about risk assessment

You must be doing, or about to commence (have a job offer), NDIS work to apply for an NDISWC. We require evidence of this. 

When you apply online, you search for and select your NDIS employer. When we send your application to the NDIS Worker Screening Database your employer is sent an email requesting they verify your application. This is to confirm you are employed by them to do NDIS work.

We do not progress your application until it is verified by your NDIS employer. If your application includes more than one NDIS employer, you only need one of them to verify your application.

Reasons your application has not been verified

Your application may not be verified because:

• you included the wrong employer in your application (you may have been provided, or entered, the incorrect employer number or name)
• your employer did not verify your application within 30 days 
• your employer rejected (intentionally or accidentally) your application
• you have changed employers and neither employer has verified your application
• you applied before gaining employment in the NDIS
• you are not doing NDIS work and do not have an NDIS employer to verify your application

If your application is not verified

After 30 days, if your application is not verified (or is rejected), we will send you an email to advise of this. We will send you 3 emails over 2 months before we cancel your application. These emails will outline what action you can take to have your application verified. 

What can you do

Speak with your NDIS employer and ask them:

• if they received and actioned the verification request
• if you have the correct employer number and name for NDIS worker screening
• to search for and link with you on the NDIS Worker Screening Database portal (which will verify your application).

Alternatively, you can add an NDIS employer to your application via your MyServiceNSW account. This will prompt a verification notice to be sent to your employer. This can be your existing employer or any other employer for which you are working. To do this:

• login to your MyServiceNSW account (on the website, not the mobile phone app)
• go to ‘NDIS Worker Check’
• go to ‘Add Employer’
• search for and add your current / new / correct NDIS employer
   

Sole trader

If you are a sole trader, you can verify your own NDISWC application.

For more information about sole traders and how to register to access the NDIS Worker Screening Database, refer to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

There are many factors that impact the time it takes to process an NDISWC application. These include:

• workloads due to the significant number of applications we are processing
• incomplete or inaccurate information in an application
• background checks having inaccurate or incomplete records
• background checks involving information that requires manual collection and processing
• having a common name or a name that matches with potential persons of interest
• requesting and transferring information between agencies
• where a risk assessment is being undertaken

We will contact you if needed

We will contact you via email if:

• there are any issues with your application
• information is required from you
• your application has not been verified by your employer after 30 days
• a risk assessment is being undertaken

Unfortunately, we cannot give you a date by when we will finalise your application. This is because we rely on applicants and other agencies to provide information or to complete the background checks. 

If the background checks identify any records, we need to review them. This means we may also need to seek further information. Requesting, receiving, and assessing information affects the time it takes to process an application.

Working while your application is being assessed

There are arrangements in place that mean a person may be able to work while their application is being assessed.

Speak to your employer about working on an NDISWC application (as long as it has been verified by them).

Your NDISWC is a digital credential. You will be told the outcome by email. It will be available in your MyServiceNSW account (website only, not the mobile phone app). Your employer views your NDISWC status and expiry date on the NDIS Worker Screening Database.

If you are issued a clearance:

• it is valid for 5 years
• it can be used across Australia. You do not need to reapply if you move to a different state or territory
• it can be used with any NDIS employer. You do not need to reapply if you change employers or jobs
• it can be used to work in any roles that require an NDISWC clearance
• you will be continuously monitored for 5 years by state and territory police agencies for new criminal offences
• you will be continuously monitored by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for new workplace misconduct
• you may be subject to a reassessment of your clearance if there are any new records or other relevant information 
• you will be notified 3 months before your clearance expires
• you need to keep your NDISWC contact details up to date via your MyServiceNSW account

If you are issued an exclusion:

• you are unable to work in the NDIS in roles that require a clearance
• you are not permitted to reapply for 5 years
• you are not permitted to reapply, even after 5 years, if you have been issued an exclusion because you are a disqualified person

You are eligible to apply for an NDISWC if you:

• are doing NDIS work and have an employer that will verify your application
• do not have an NDIS worker screening application underway in New South Wales or any other state or territory
• do not have an existing NDIS worker screening clearance from New South Wales or any other state or territory (unless it is less than 3 months before it expires)
• do not have an existing NDIS worker screening exclusion from New South Wales or any other state or territory
• in the last 12 months, have not had your application cancelled because you failed to comply with a requirement to provide information.

If you apply and you are not eligible, your application will be cancelled without refund.

If you are not doing or about to commence NDIS work, you cannot apply. Your application will not be verified and will be cancelled. For more information, go to the NDISWC - employer verification page.

If you have an existing NDISWC clearance, you can apply if it will expire within the next 3 months.

If you have an existing NDISWC exclusion, you can apply if you have had a relevant change of circumstances. However, contact us first. For more information refer to the early application section of the NDISWC - requesting a review page.

1: Lodge an online application

• Select 'Apply for an NDISWC' at the top of this page
• Log into your MyServiceNSW account (or create an account if you do not have one)
• Follow the prompts to complete the online application
• You'll be sent a confirmation email with an application number

2: Visit a Service NSW centre within 28 days (4 weeks)

• Bring your application number (contained in your confirmation email)
• Bring your original identity documents (not photocopies, photos or scans)
• Bring evidence of your name change (marriage certificate or change of name certificate), if applicable
• Pay the application fee
• Have your photo taken
• Service NSW will review your application, then send it to us for processing

3: We review your application

• We review your application to check it is valid. If we need additional information from you, we will contact you by email
• When your application is determined to be valid, we then send it to the NDIS Worker Screening Database

4: Your employer will verify your application

•  Your NDIS employer will be sent an email asking them to verify your application (they have 30 days to do this)
• When your employer has verified your application, you'll receive an email from us confirming this
• If it is not verified, we will also notify you and advise how you may be able to resolve this
   

Then we assess your application

Once your application is verified, the assessment process begins. This means we start our background checks.

If there are records identified, we will review them. A risk assessment may be required for some applicants. 

More information on NDISWC application and assessment

We will let you know by email what the outcome is or if you need to give us more information.

We cannot provide you a time frame to complete the assessment of your application. 

To check the status of your NDISWC, log in to your MyServiceNSW Account.

To apply, you need:

• A MyServiceNSW account (if you don't have one, you only need an email and password to create an account)
• 3 identity documents (see the 'Identity documents' section below)
• Your employer's NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission registration number or name (your employer should provide you with this)
• To advise us of your current address and your previous addresses for the last 5 years
• To advise us of your current full name and any other names you have used throughout your life
• To provide your personal email address and mobile phone number (do not use your work contact details)
• To consent to a criminal history check and to information about you being shared with other agencies
• To provide information about your other worker screening checks, child protection matters, crimes committed overseas, and workplace misconduct
• If you're under 18, your parent or legal guardian's personal details, phone number, email address and consent to your application

The NDISWC application fee is the cost for applying. The application fee is:

• $112 for paid workers
• free for volunteers.

We incur our own costs and pay third-party service providers for every application we receive and process. The application fee contributes to these costs.

Before you apply, ensure you:

• are eligible to apply
• have the required identity documents
• have an NDIS employer who will verify your application.

If for any reason your application is cancelled, you will not receive a refund. If you are not sure about your circumstances, please contact us by email before you apply.

To apply for an NDISWC, you must provide 3 identity documents:

• 1 x Category A 
• 1 x Category B 
• 1 x Category C

If you cannot meet these requirements, you can use an alternative mix (‘special provisions’). This requires 4 identity documents from the 3 categories:

• maximum 2 x Category A
• maximum 2 x Category B
• maximum 3 x Category C

Your documents must meet the requirements outlined in the Identity document requirements section below.

Category A documents (x 1)

• Australian birth certificate issued by a state or territory registry (full certificate, not an extract or birth card)
• Australian passport (private, official or diplomatic)
• Australian visa (and linked overseas passport)
• Australian ImmiCard
• Australian citizenship certificate

Note: if you were born in Australia and your birth was registered but you do not currently have a Category A document, we suggest you apply for a birth certificate from the registry of births, deaths and marriages in the state or territory in which you were born.

Category B documents (x 1)

• Australian driver licence, learner permit or provisional licence
• Australian photo card (proof of age card) issued by a state or territory government agency
• Australian passport (if not used as a Category A document)
• Australian visa (and linked foreign passport) (if not used as a Category A document)
• Australin ImmiCard (if not used as a Category A document)

Note: if you do not currently have a Category B document, we suggest you apply for a NSW photo card.

Category C documents (x 1)

• Medicare card
• Centrelink concession card or Australian health care card 
• Australian university or other tertiary student photo identity card (if 18 years or older)
• Australian secondary student photo identity card
• Australian issued bank, debit or credit card
• Australian Tax Office notice of assessment (most recent financial year)
• Australian adult shooter or firearm licence (not minor or junior permit or licence)
• Australian Electoral Commission enrolment
• An NDIS Worker Check trusted referee report (PDF, 77 KB) (signed, dated within the last 3 months)
   

Note: If you use a trusted referee report as an identity document, we will contact you by email to obtain it after you have visited the Service NSW centre. 

Identity documents must be current and original

• Photos, screen shots, photocopies, or certified copies are not acceptable documents
• Expired documents are not acceptable
• Government issued digital documents, such as a digital Medicare card, NSW digital driver licence, and NSW digital birth certificate are acceptable
• Digital documents must be opened in the relevant mobile phone app at the Service NSW counter. They cannot be a screen shot or image 

Identity documents must contain your signature and photo

• At least one of your identity documents must contain a photo of you
• At least one of your identity documents must contain your signature

All identity documents must be in the same name 

• Your identity documents must be in the same name
• They must display the same first and last names 

You must provide evidence of a name change (if applicable)

• Identity documents can be in different names if you have legally changed your name and you have evidence of a legal name change
• A legal name change may be due to marriage, divorce, or other legal reason
• You must provide evidence of the legal name change that is an Australian marriage certificate or an Australian change of name certificate issued by a state or territory registry of births, deaths, and marriages
• We do not accept a statutory declaration, deed poll, divorce order, or a certificate issued by a marriage celebrant

Documents must be officially translated if not in English

• You must provide officially translated documents if any of your identity documents are not in English. Apply for document translation services
• Take both the original and the translated documents with you when you visit the service centre

Contact us if you can't meet the identity requirements (standard and special provisions).

Send us an email explaining what identity documents and requirements you can and can't meet, and any relevant reason or circumstances for us to consider.

We will consider what options are available to help you apply for your NDISWC.

Email: contact@ndiswc.nsw.gov.au