Safety screening checks
The following safety screening checks are required to be undertaken before selection to any position within the department.
1. Referee Checks
Referee checks are generally undertaken on competitive applicants. The referee check will include questions relating to your skills and experience against the key selection criteria, as well as your previous conduct and behaviour in the workplace.
Conduct and behaviour questions will be related to the Department of Human Services' five core values, as detailed on the job description. Information will be sought from your nominated referees. If the panel determines that they need to speak to another referee, they must inform you prior to making contact.
What you need to do
Provide a minimum of two referees, including your current or most recent supervisor in your application.
2. National criminal history (police) records check
A national criminal history (police) records check is undertaken on all competitive applicants. It is conducted to establish if an individual has a criminal record and to assess the relevance of that record within the context of the department's work environment and the role being applied for.
Should your employment application be successful, you will be required to pay for your own check. Payment will be deducted from your first fortnightly pay.
If your employment application is not successful, any documentation collected, excluding the original consent form, will be securely destroyed.
The results of the check will remain the property of the Department of Human Services, and will be stored in line with the Information Privacy Act 2000. For full details on this refer to Other relevant information section on this website.
For information on what will be released in the police record check, please contact Victoria Police or the relevant police jurisdiction(s) in which the offence(s) may have occurred.
What you need to do
A competitive applicant will be asked to complete ‘Consent to Check and Release National Criminal History Record’ form. A proof of identity check will also be conducted.
Download an automated form for the Consent to Check and Release National Criminal History Record form (PDF, 629kb)
Proof of Identity Check
As part of the National criminal history (police) records check, you are required to establish your identity.
The ‘Proof of Identity’ check establishes your identity by verifying the following:
- commencement of the identity in the community, for example, a full Australian birth certificate
- link between the identity and the applicant by means of a photo and a signature, for example a current driver's licence
- operation of the identity in the community, for example a current credit card
- residential address of the applicant for example a rates notice, bank statement or utility account (gas, water etc.)
What you need to do
If you are identified as a competitive applicant you will need to provide original documents to prove your identity.
Download the Proof of Identity Framework (PDF 23kb, 18/1/2007)
Download the Proof of Identity Schedule (PDF 35kb, 18/1/2007)
3. Pre-employment Medical Check
A pre-employment medical check is required when applying for direct care positions or where the position has particular physical demands. This is undertaken to ensure the applicant is capable of meeting the physical demands of the position.
A medical practitioner nominated by the department, or your personal medical practitioner who has been treating you for more than 2 years, will conduct the medical check. The medical practitioner will assess you against your capacity to safely, independently and productively perform the genuine and reasonable requirements of the position.
The genuine and reasonable demands of the position have been documented in a pre-employment medical assessment report. The medical practitioner is asked to indicate whether or not you are able to safely, independently and productively perform each activity without placing yourself, co-workers and/or clients at risk.
What you need to do
Competitive applicants will be required to complete the pre-employment medical check.