Overseas (international) criminal history checks

​​Overseas (international) criminal history checks required for applications 

Teachers currently registered with the TRBWA may be required to provide, with their application, an overseas criminal history check (OCHC).

If you have resided in a country outside of Australia for a cumulative* period of 12 months or more, from 18 years of age, during your current registration period, you will need to provide an OCHC for that country, or countries. 

Overseas criminal history checks as part of a fit and proper assessment

In performing its functions, the TRBWA must regard the best interests of children as the paramount consideration. As such, an essential requirement for registration in Western Australia is that the teacher is deemed a fit and proper person to teach.

As part of the fit and proper assessment, teachers are required to consent to an Australian (national) criminal history check and provide an overseas criminal history check from every country they have resided in, outside of Australia, for over 12 months or more, from 18 years of age, during their current registration period. Overseas criminal history checks form part of the fit and proper assessment. This aligns with policy in other Australian jurisdictions.

The overseas criminal history check must have been issued in the 12 months prior to submitting the application. It must cover the entire time spent in every country from the age of 18 years and include all names by which the teacher has been known by in that country.

Apply for an overseas criminal history check

While the Board will have regard to any evidence provided with respect to an applicant’s overseas criminal history, in order to provide reasonable assurance concerning the validity of the check, applicants must obtain a check from the Board’s preferred provider, AIS International.

When you apply to transition, extend or renew your registration via Teacher Login on the TRBWA website, you will be redirected to the AIS International Applicant Portal to obtain your overseas criminal history check. 

You will receive an email from AIS International when the results of your overseas criminal history check are available. The results of your overseas criminal history check will also be provided directly to the TRBWA.

Your AIS International overseas criminal history check application is separate to your teacher registration application. Payment for your overseas criminal history check will need to be made directly to AIS International.

If you have any questions regarding your overseas criminal history check application, please contact AIS International on:

Telephone: 1300 300 007
Email: info@aisintl.com.au
Website: www.aisintl.com.au

What if I am unable to obtain an overseas criminal history check?

If AIS International does not conduct a check for the country you resided in, the TRBWA may accept a statutory declaration. You will need to provide the following details as part of the statutory declaration:

  • the reasons you are not able to obtain the overseas criminal history check
  • what steps you took to obtain the overseas criminal history check and evidence of this
  • confirm if you have or do not have a criminal history in that country

If you are unable to obtain the required overseas criminal history check from AIS International, please contact the TRBWA to request a statutory declaration. Please do not provide your own statutory declaration or obtain one from Australia Post.

​*Cumulative – the total time spent in each individual country within your current period of registration.

Example - If you currently hold Full Registration, which was last renewed in 2018, and you spent 6 months in the UK in 2019 and another 6 months in 2020, the total time spent in the UK would be 12 months within your current registration period. You would, therefore, be required to provide an overseas criminal history check from the UK when you apply to renew your registration in 2022.