A police record check provides a summary of your offender history in Australia.
It is usually requested by organisations as part of their recruitment process for staff and volunteers.
Police checks for volunteers who work with vulnerable groups such as children, the aged or people with a disability are provided free of charge by South Australia Police to organisations who have a Volunteer Organisation Authorisation Number.
Police record checks are also called national police certificates.
Complete a police check application form online then print it out.
Download the application form - electronic, or
Download this application form and fill out by hand, or
Get a form from your local police station and complete it by hand.
Find your local police station
Check that you have 100 points of original identification
A list of what we accept is provided on the application form.
View the current fees for police record checks (under Certificates)
Take your application to your local police station or a Justice of the Peace (JP).
Take your:
Ask a police officer or JP to:
Pay the application fee at the police station or by cheque or money order if you go to a JP.
Make your cheque or money order out to South Australia Police. Attach the cheque or money order to your application and send to:
Information Services Branch
Records Release Unit
South Australia Police
GPO Box 1539
Adelaide SA 5001
Your application will be processed within 10 working days from when it is received by the South Australia Police Records Release Unit.
Find out more about applying for a national police certificate (word)
Find out more about applying for a national police certificate (pdf)