New approach to international criminal history checks launches today

04 Feb 2015

A new procedure for checking international criminal history that provides greater public protection takes effect today.

This approach requires certain applicants and practitioners to apply for an international criminal history check from an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) approved supplier and was first announced in November last year. The supplier will provide the international criminal history check report to the applicant and directly to AHPRA.

AHPRA CEO, Martin Fletcher said the new process for checking international criminal history aimed to strike a balance between public safety and regulatory burden for practitioners.

‘Public protection is at the heart of everything we do. We are providing the Australian community with greater assurance by implementing additional safeguards in managing risks to the public from someone’s international criminal history. The new approach aligns our international criminal history checks with our domestic history checks and aims to be fair and reasonable for practitioners. ’ said Mr. Fletcher.

Under the National Law, National Boards must consider the criminal history of an applicant who applies for registration, including any overseas criminal history¹.

There will be no change to existing domestic criminal history check requirements.

Practitioners affected by the changes

New applicants

All new applicants seeking registration as health practitioners in Australia, if they:

• declare a criminal history outside Australia, and/or 
• have lived in one or more countries other than Australia for six consecutive months or more since the age of 18.

Registered practitioners

Currently registered practitioners, if they:

• are seeking to renew their registration or applying for a change in registration type, and: 
  • there has been a change to their criminal history in one or more countries other than Australia since their last declaration to AHPRA 
• at any time of the year, inform the relevant National Board that they have been:
  • charged with an offence outside Australia that is punishable by a sentence of 12 months imprisonment or more, or 
  • convicted of, have pleaded guilty to or are the subject of a finding of guilt by a court for an offence, outside Australia, that is punishable by imprisonment.

Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR) applicants

Practitioners who have been registered under Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR) from 4 February 2015 if they:

• declare a criminal history outside of Australia; and/or 
• have lived, or have been primarily based in any one or more countries other than Australia for six consecutive months or longer, when aged 18 years or more.

For more information

• About AHPRA’s criminal history check process on the AHPRA website, 
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 3 9275 9009 (overseas callers) 
• For media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200

Download a PDF of this Media release - New approach to international criminal history checks launches today - 4 February 2014 (152 KB,PDF)

¹Section 79(1) of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (National Law)