To be registered with us or to renew your registration as a teacher, you will need to have a current and satisfactory Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) - previously known as the National Police History Check (NPHC) - conducted by VIT on your behalf.
If your NCCHC is due to expire, you will need to undertake another check when you renew your registration.
We will notify you prior to the five-year expiry of your NCCHC and ask you to complete a consent form so we can conduct a check on your behalf.
An overview of the NCCHC
The NCCHC provides details of convictions and findings of guilt for criminal offences following an examination of the records held by police services in Australian States and Territories.
The notification of any of these offences through the NCCHC will not automatically preclude you from renewing your registration.
We consider each case on its merits and are only concerned with those sexual offences that are listed in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, or indictable offences related to a teacher's fitness to teach.
It is your responsibility to notify us within 30 days if committed for trial or convicted of an indictable or sexual offence.
We are legally obliged to act on sexual offences identified in the legislation or indictable offences relating to a teacher's fitness to teach.
The NCCHC will search nationally for these offences.
If we determine there are no offences or relevant offences against you, we will consider you as having a satisfactory NCCHC.
Learn more about personal information collection and the NCCHC.
If you have a current Victorian police check or and NCCHC conducted by another organisation
We can only accept a satisfactory NCCHC conducted by us, on your behalf. You cannot use a current Victorian police check to register or renew your registration with us. If you have a current NCCHC conducted by any other organisation or process you will still need to undergo another NCCHC when you apply for registration with us.
Please keep in mind the following points regarding the NCCHC:
- For us to conduct a check on your behalf, you need to complete a consent form online by accessing your MyVIT account.
- Payment must be received by the due date.
- Your NCCHC must be current so you can renew your registration.
- We are unable to issue a current registration card until your NCCHC has been updated.
Working with Children Check and the NCCHC
If you hold a current Working with Children Check, you still need an NCCHC conducted by us on your behalf. However, you don’t need to undertake a Working With Children Check if you have a current VIT registration card, so long as your NCCHC is valid for the period of the card.
Read about your obligations to notify Working With Children Check about any child-related work (other than teaching).
Information we require as proof of identity
Before we can undertake an NCCHC on behalf of a new applicant, we must verify your identity. You will need to provide us with copies of appropriate identity documents.
This will include one category 1 document and at least one category 2 document, together with evidence of all changes of name, where applicable.
Currently registered teachers have already verified their identity and do not need to provide category 1 or 2 documentation.
Learn more about personal information collection and the NCCHC.
If you have ever changed your name
For the purposes of your NCCHC, we need to be informed if you have ever been known by another name.
You can provide evidence of all changes of name by supplying a copy of one of the following:
- A copy of your marriage certificate.
- A change of name via deed poll or a decree nisi.
If you have recently changed your name, you also need to update your contact details with us.
Overseas Documents in a Language other than English
If any of your documents are in a language other than English, you will need to provide the documents in the original language, plus translations.
These translations must be prepared and certified as correct by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd. (NAATI).
Documents that require translation can include (but are not limited to): overseas birth or marriage certificate, other legal ‘change of name’ documents, qualification documents, overseas criminal record checks.
Consent to NCCHC and State police checks
All applicants and registered teachers must provide consent for Nationally Co-ordinated Criminal History Checks and State police checks to conducted as part of their application and ongoing registration with VIT. This consent is provided by reading and confirming your understanding of the following information:
Nationally Co-ordinated Criminal History Checks (NCCHC)
VIT may conduct a Nationally Co-ordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) at the time of your initial application, and at least once every 5 years. In addition, the VIT may conduct a NCCHC at any other time during the period of your registration if there are circumstances that make this necessary or appropriate. The purpose of these checks is to determine whether you are suitable to be registered and remain registered as a teacher and/or early childhood teacher in Victoria.
VIT will periodically seek your written consent to conduct these checks and to update the personal information that is used to conduct these checks. This will occur at least once every 5 years.
As part of your application for registration, you will acknowledge that you have read, understood, and consented to the following:
The VIT will collect the following information and documents as part of my application for registration:
- All names and aliases to which I am known, or have been known (including all current and former surnames and given name(s))
- Date and place of my birth
- My gender
- My residential addresses for the last 5 years; and
- Various identification documents.
I understand that I need to fully and correctly disclose this personal information as part of my application for registration.
I acknowledge that the VIT is authorised by the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) to collect this personal information.
I acknowledge that a failure to provide this information may result in my application for registration with VIT being deemed incomplete and that it may not be processed.
I also acknowledge that the provision of false or misleading information in my application for registration is a serious offence.
I understand that the purpose for collecting this information is to conduct a Nationally Co-ordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC). This form of criminal record check is in a category for which exclusions from spent conviction legislation applies.
In order to conduct the NCCHC, I acknowledge that my personal information (including all of the names that I have provided in my application, and any names that are featured on my identity documents) will be disclosed to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) (an Agency of the Commonwealth of Australia) and police agencies in the states and territories of Australia, including Victoria Police.
I consent to the ACIC and police agencies collecting and using this information for the purpose of conducting the NCCHC.
I consent to the police agencies disclosing to the ACIC, from their records, Police History information that can be disclosed in accordance with the law of the Commonwealth, States and Territories and in accordance with the relevant jurisdiction’s information release policies.
I consent to the ACIC disclosing the information sourced from the police agencies to the VIT.
I consent to VIT collecting and using this information for the purpose of determining whether I am suitable to teach. These assessments are completed at the time of application, and throughout the period of my registration with the VIT.
I also acknowledge that it is usual practice for my personal information to be disclosed to police agencies for law enforcement purposes including the investigation of any outstanding criminal offences and the purposes set out in the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth).
If I have any disputes about the result of my police check, I understand that I am required to contact the VIT in the first instance. It is VIT’s responsibility to accept the complaint and escalate it to the ACIC for resolution.
State police checks
VIT may conduct a check with Victoria Police at the time of your application and at any other time during the period of your registration. The purpose of these checks is to determine whether you are suitable to teach and to be registered and remain registered as a teacher and/or early childhood teacher in Victoria.
VIT has arrangements in place with Victoria Police to conduct weekly checks of all registered teachers in Victoria to determine whether they have been charged, convicted or found guilty of any criminal offence in Victoria.
