Conviction No Longer Disclosed
A spent conviction is a past offence that, after a crime-free period, no longer needs to be disclosed and usually won’t appear on police checks.
A spent conviction is an old conviction that no longer needs to be disclosed after a set period without further offences. It won’t usually appear on a police check, helping people move forward without being unfairly held back by minor past mistakes. However, some roles—like working with children, security, or law enforcement—may still require disclosure of spent convictions.
Under the Spent Convictions Act 2000, certain old or minor convictions won’t appear on your police check after a set period without reoffending, helping you move forward without a past mistake holding you back.
Key points:
- Automatic in some cases: You don’t have to apply; the police system omits it automatically after the period expires (depending on jurisdiction).
- Exceptions: Serious offences (like sexual offences) or prison sentences above a certain length are usually never served.
Spent Convictions - AFP Police Check
Working in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Offences recorded in the ACT that will be released
| Code | Category | Exclusion | Offences Released (ACT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Hospital Employment | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 9 | Security Licence (Security Guard) | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 10 | Aged Care Provider/Worker | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 11 | Brothel or Escort Agency Owner/Operator | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 12 | Child Care Provider/Worker | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 13 | Disabled Care Provider/Worker or Hospital Employment | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 14 | Explosives/Fireworks Permit | N | Unspent offences |
| 15 | Fire Fighting/Prevention | P | Unspent offences and Arson or Attempted Arson offences |
| 16 | Firearms Licence/Permit | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 17 | Interactive Gambling Licence/Casino Employee | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 18 | Prison Officer | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 19 | Child/Aged/Disabled Care Provider/Worker | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 20 | Working in a School | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 21 | Teacher/Teacher's Aide | F | ACT - All offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 30 | Pre Employment/Standard Disclosure | N | Unspent offences |
Commonwealth Employment / Purpose
| Code | Category | Exclusion | Offences Released (Commonwealth) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Aged Care Staff/Volunteers | P | Unspent offences and offences against the person where State/Territory legislation permits |
| 23 | Aged Care Key Personnel | N | Unspent offences |
| 24 | ASIC Employee | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 25 | ASIC Financial Licensing | N | Unspent offences |
| 26 | AUSTRAC Employee/Consultant | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 27 | Care of Intellectually Disabled Persons | P | Unspent offences and offences against the person where State/Territory legislation permits |
| 28 | Care/Supervision of Children | P | Unspent offences incl. sexual and any offence where victim was under 18, where legislation permits |
| 29 | Civil Aviation Safety Authority - ASSC | N | Unspent offences |
| 31 | Access to Secret/Top Secret Info | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 32 | Immigration Detention Centre Employment | P | Unspent and violent offences where legislation permits |
| 33 | Immigration/Citizenship - Australia | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 34 | Law Enforcement/Intelligence/Security | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 35 | Overseas Visa (not for Australia) | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 36 | Superannuation Role | P | Unspent and dishonest conduct offences where legislation permits |
| 37 | Children/Disabled/Aged Care | P | Unspent, sexual, offences against under-18s and other person offences where permitted |
| 40 | Other Commonwealth Purpose | N | Unspent offences |
| 41 | Overseas Employment - General | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 42 | Overseas Employment - Aged/Disabled Care | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 43 | Overseas Employment - Teaching | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 44 | Overseas Employment - Working with Children | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
| 45 | Overseas Employment - Nursing, Hospital | F | All Commonwealth offences. Other State/Territory offences as legislation permits |
Pre-Employment/Standard Disclosure
| Code | Category | Exclusion | Offences Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | General Purpose/Standard Disclosure | N | Unspent offences as Commonwealth/State/Territory legislation permits |
