To get a police check
A police or criminal history check is a document that lists all court outcomes and pending charges for an individual. The information is collected from the databases of all Australian police jurisdictions. You may need a police check when you start a new job, adopt a child or work overseas.
| If you live in this state or territory | Ask your local police for |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | National police check - external site |
| New South Wales | Criminal history check - external site |
| Northern Territory | Criminal history check - external site |
| Queensland | Criminal history check - external site |
| South Australia | Police record check - external site |
| Tasmania | Police history record check - external site |
| Victoria | National police record check - external site |
| Western Australia | National police certificate - external site |
To get a copy of a police report
If you want information about a motor vehicle accident or a crime (such as a property theft) that you were involved in, contact your local police:
- ACT Policing - external site
- NSW Police Force - external site
- NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services - external site
- Queensland Police - external site
- South Australia Police - external site
- Tasmania Police - external site
- Victoria Police - external site
- Western Australia Police Force - external site
To access state or territory government information
To access information that a state or territory government agency holds, contact the agency you think holds the information. We don’t hold the records of other agencies.
For more information, contact the agency that regulates freedom of information law in the relevant state or territory.
| If the agency is in | Contact |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Ombudsman - external site |
| New South Wales | Information and Privacy Commission - external site |
| Northern Territory | Office of the Information Commissioner - external site |
| Queensland | Office of the Information Commissioner - external site |
| South Australia | State Records - external site |
| Tasmania | Ombudsman Tasmania - external site |
| Victoria | Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner - external site |
| Western Australia | Office of the Information Commissioner - external site |
To access your child’s school records
School reports
You can ask your child’s school for your child’s school report, even if you’re a non-custodial parent. The school will give you a copy unless a court protection order prevents them.
Non-educational personal information
You can ask your child’s private school for access to your child’s non-educational personal information. But before giving you access, under Australian privacy law the school must think about:
- your child’s age
- the nature of the information
- your child’s expectations about what the information may disclose.
The school should also give you and your child their policy on non-educational disclosures.
Sensitive information
You can ask for sensitive information about your child that your child’s school holds. But before giving you access, under Australian privacy law the school must think about:
- the age and best interests of the child
- the need for the child’s parents or guardians to be told
- their duty of care to the child.
To access your health information
Australian privacy law gives you a general right to access the health information a health service provider holds about you.
To access your My Health Record, sign in to myGov - external site.
