One of the most common questions we receive at National Clearance Australia is: "Why is the volunteer police check $29 but the employment check is $59?" It's a fair question — after all, both checks go through the same ACIC database and produce the same National Police Certificate. The answer lies in how the Australian government structures fees to support community organisations and encourage volunteering.
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The Quick Answer: It's About the ACIC Fee
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) — the government body that manages the National Police Checking Service — charges different fees depending on whether the check is for a volunteer or paid position. This isn't something individual providers like National Clearance Australia decide; it's a government-mandated fee structure designed to:
- Reduce barriers to volunteering — Making police checks more affordable encourages Australians to contribute to their communities
- Support not-for-profit organisations — Charities, sports clubs, and community groups often operate on tight budgets
- Recognise the social value of unpaid work — Volunteers shouldn't face the same costs as commercial enterprises
The lower ACIC government fee for volunteer checks is passed directly to applicants, which is why you pay $29 for a volunteer check compared to $59 for an employment check.
Side-by-Side Comparison
For unpaid community roles
- No wages, salary, or commission
- Expense reimbursement OK
- Charities & not-for-profits
- Sports clubs & community groups
- Same certificate as employment
- 70% completed in 24 hours
For paid positions
- Any paid position
- Wages, salary, commission
- Contractors & self-employed
- Licensing requirements
- Same certificate as volunteer
- 70% completed in 24 hours
What's Actually Different?
Here's what might surprise you: the police check itself is identical. Both volunteer and employment checks:
- Search the same ACIC national database
- Use the same 100-point identity verification
- Produce the same National Police Certificate
- Are processed in the same timeframe (70% within 24 hours)
- Are nationally recognised and accepted everywhere
The only difference on your certificate is the "purpose" field, which will show either "Volunteer" or "Employment" depending on which check you applied for. The actual criminal history information is exactly the same.
Who Qualifies for a Volunteer Check?
The ACIC has clear guidelines about who can apply for the discounted volunteer rate. You're eligible for a volunteer check ($29) if:
- You will receive no payment for your role — no wages, salary, commission, or fees
- You're working with a not-for-profit organisation, charity, community group, or similar
- Your role involves unpaid community service
What About Expense Reimbursement?
Good news: receiving reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses doesn't disqualify you from the volunteer rate. This includes:
- Travel costs (petrol, public transport fares)
- Meal allowances during volunteer shifts
- Parking fees
- Equipment or uniform costs
As long as these are genuine expense reimbursements (not disguised payments), you still qualify for the $29 volunteer rate.
Volunteer checks are commonly used for: charity shop assistants, sporting club coaches and committee members, school canteen helpers, hospital visitors, community event volunteers, Meals on Wheels drivers, bushfire brigade members, surf lifesavers, and mentoring program participants.
When Do You Need an Employment Check?
You must apply for an employment check ($59) if you will receive any form of payment for your role, including:
- Wages or salary — Full-time, part-time, or casual employment
- Commission — Sales roles, real estate, financial services
- Contract payments — Freelance, consulting, or contractor work
- Self-employment income — If you're starting your own business requiring a police check
- Stipends — If these go beyond genuine expense reimbursement
- Licensing requirements — Security, real estate, financial services, childcare
Selecting a volunteer check when you're actually being paid is a misuse of the system. Your application may be rejected, or your employer may refuse to accept the certificate. If you're unsure, always select the employment check — it's accepted for all purposes, including volunteer roles.
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | Volunteer Check | Employment Check |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 inc. GST | $59 inc. GST |
| Payment Received? | No (expenses only OK) | Yes (any payment) |
| ACIC Database Searched | Full national database | Full national database |
| Certificate Issued | National Police Certificate | National Police Certificate |
| Processing Time | 70% within 24 hours | 70% within 24 hours |
| Nationally Recognised | Yes | Yes |
| Identity Verification | 100-point digital check | 100-point digital check |
| Valid For | Volunteer purposes only | All purposes (including volunteer) |
| Typical Use Cases | Charities, sports clubs, community groups | Jobs, licensing, contracts, business |
Why the Price Difference Exists
The Australian government recognises that volunteers are the backbone of many community services. From local sports clubs to national charities, volunteers contribute billions of dollars worth of unpaid labour to Australian society each year.
By setting a lower ACIC fee for volunteer checks, the government aims to:
- Reduce financial barriers — A $30 saving might seem small, but for volunteers (often students, retirees, or those on limited incomes), it makes a difference
- Support not-for-profits — Organisations that bulk-process volunteer checks save significantly on their operating costs
- Encourage community participation — Lower costs = more people willing to volunteer
- Recognise the value of unpaid work — Volunteers shouldn't be charged commercial rates
At National Clearance Australia, we pass on the full ACIC discount to volunteer applicants. We don't inflate volunteer prices to match employment checks — you pay exactly what reflects the government fee structure.
Can I Use a Volunteer Check for Paid Work?
No. A volunteer check is only valid for unpaid roles. If you try to use a volunteer police certificate for paid employment:
- Your employer may reject the certificate
- You may be asked to obtain a new employment check at your own cost
- It could delay your start date or onboarding process
However, the reverse is fine: an employment check is valid for volunteer roles. If you're unsure about your situation, the employment check covers all bases.
What If I'm Both a Volunteer AND an Employee?
This is more common than you might think. For example:
- You work part-time at a childcare centre (paid) AND volunteer at weekend sports coaching (unpaid)
- You're a paid employee at a charity AND also volunteer for their fundraising events
- You work as a contractor (paid) AND volunteer at a local community group
In these cases, you have two options:
- Get one employment check ($59) — This covers both purposes. Your volunteer organisation will accept an employment check.
- Get separate checks — One volunteer check ($29) and one employment check ($59). This might make sense if the organisations require different check purposes on the certificate.
For most people, a single employment check is the most practical choice.
How to Choose the Right Check
Choose Volunteer ($29) if: You will receive NO payment whatsoever (expense reimbursement is fine).
Choose Employment ($59) if: You will receive ANY payment — wages, salary, commission, contracts, or if you're unsure.
When in doubt, select the employment check. It's accepted everywhere, including for volunteer roles, and ensures your certificate won't be rejected.
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Volunteer checks from $29, employment checks from $59. 70% completed within 24 hours.
Start Your ApplicationFrequently Asked Questions
Why is the volunteer police check cheaper?
The ACIC (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission) sets a lower government fee for volunteer checks to support community organisations and encourage volunteering. This reduced fee is passed directly to applicants. The actual police check process and certificate are identical — only the price differs based on the purpose.
Who is eligible for the $29 volunteer rate?
You're eligible if you will receive NO payment for your role — no wages, salary, commission, or fees. Reimbursement for genuine out-of-pocket expenses (travel, meals, parking) is acceptable and doesn't disqualify you from the volunteer rate.
What happens if I select the wrong check type?
If you select a volunteer check but are actually being paid, your application may be rejected or your employer may not accept the certificate. It's important to select the correct check type. If unsure, choose the employment check — it's valid for all purposes including volunteer roles.
Is the certificate different for volunteer vs employment?
The certificate looks the same and contains the same criminal history information. The only difference is the "purpose" field, which shows either "Volunteer" or "Employment." Both are nationally recognised and processed through the same ACIC database.
Can I use a volunteer check for paid work?
No. Volunteer checks are only valid for unpaid roles. If you're receiving payment, you must apply for an employment check. However, an employment check IS valid for volunteer roles — so if you're unsure, the employment check covers all situations.
What if I receive a stipend or honorarium?
It depends on the nature of the payment. If it's genuinely reimbursing expenses you've incurred (travel, meals, equipment), you may still qualify for the volunteer rate. If it's a payment for your time or services beyond expense reimbursement, you need an employment check. When in doubt, choose employment.
Get Your Police Check Today
Whether you need a volunteer check ($29) or an employment check ($59), National Clearance Australia makes the process simple. Our 100% online application takes just minutes, and 70% of checks are completed within 24 hours.
As a subsidiary of Job Trainer Australia (ASQA-approved RTO 45742), we bring compliance expertise to every police check we process. Our platform works seamlessly to deliver Australia's most trusted and fastest police checks.
Start your police check application →
Have questions about which check type you need? Contact our support team — we're here to help.