CrimCheck - Automated Police Checking Service
14 July 2008 at 3:47 pm
A pilot scheme to provide a fast and easy web-based system to process police checks for volunteers and potential staff in the Not for Profit sector has gone state-wide in Victoria.
Called CrimCheck the system was piloted in 2007 through 12 community service organisations in a project funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services.
The system was also assisted with pro bono legal services provided by PILCH member Allens Arthur Robinson.
Now the service has been rolled out across Victoria with more than 70 organisations registered to use CrimCeck, processing more than 2600 electronic police checks.
CrimCheck CEO Gloria Mahoney says the system is easy, fast and more secure.
Mahoney says police checks have become a key element of pre-employment and volunteer screening and assist with risk management and help to assess the suitability of potential employees.
Currently, to lodge a police check in Victoria, you need to:
– Manually complete a form
– Photocopy acceptable ID documents
– Raise a cheque
– Mail the cheque with the Form and ID to Victoria Police
– Await processing and uploading of the police check
– Await the mailed response and then contact the applicant.
The whole process generally takes a minimum of 10 working days.
Mahoney says already, CrimCheck has demonstrated that it can slash the time and effort required to complete police checks sometimes within 24 hours.
Now organisations can submit Police Check Applications online, via the CrimCheck system. These applications are batched, encrypted, and uploaded daily directly to the National Criminal History database in Canberra. The Police Check Applications are processed, and the results transferred to the CrimCheck system.
For a "No Match", CrimCheck emails the organisation to advise them that there is no police record. For "Confirmed Matches", the applicant is contacted directly by CrimCheck staff and advised of their options.
Gloria Mahoney says one of the major benefits for Not for Profits is the ability to get volunteers immediately instead of waiting up to 8 weeks for a police check.
She says in that time many potential volunteers have lost interest.
She says it is also a great asset when assessing paid staff.
Not for Profits based in Victoria or national organisations with a Victorian office can register to use CrimCheck at www.crimcheck.org.au
