Ensuring Fitness to Teach – Overseas Criminal History

On application for teacher registration, renewal of registration, or a special authority to teach all applicants who have lived outside Australia, are required to provide an Overseas Criminal History Check (OCHRC) as part of the assessment.

Who Needs to Provide an OCHRC?

You must provide an OCHRC if the following applies:

  • You have lived in any country outside Australia
  • For a cumulative period of 12 months or more
  • While 18 years of age or older
  • Within the past 10 years

Note: “Cumulative” means the total time spent in each country in the 10 years prior to making an application, even if across multiple trips.

OCHRC must reflect all names by which you have ever been known

How to Obtain an OCHRC

TRBSA endorses AIS International as its OCHRC provider for overseas criminal history checks.

To apply:

  1. Visit the AIS International Portal for Teachers Registration Board of South Australia
  2. Complete the online form and pay the required fee
  3. Submit necessary identification and documents

AIS will send your check directly to TRBSA and notify you when the results are available.

In situations where AIS does not provide a check for the country

The following two (2) options apply:

Option 1 – Obtain a National Police Check from the country

Provide a police check from that country, ensuring that it: -

  • Was issued within the last 12 months
  • Covers the full period you resided there
  • Includes all names you were known by
  • Meets the Department of Home Affairs standards (include link)

Option 2 – Complete a Statutory Declaration (TRBSA Template Only)

Where a police check is not able to be obtained due to special circumstances beyond your control, please contact TRBSA at info@trb.sa.edu.auto request our approved statutory declaration template.

Note: External generic forms will not be accepted.

Already Have a Valid OCHRC?

You may submit your overseas police check if it meets all the following criteria:

  • Issued within the last 12 months
  • Covers the entire period you resided in the country
  • Includes all names you were known by
  • Is provided as:
    • An original or certified copy, or
    • Sent directly from the issuing authority to TRBSA

If your OCHRC is not in English

Where the police check obtained or related documents are not in English, you must provide:

  • A full English translation completed by a NAATI-accredited translator (or equivalent)
  • Both the original document and the translated version

Documents submitted without an English translation cannot be accepted.

Certification of Overseas Documents

If you are currently overseas, your documents must be certified by:

  • An Australian diplomatic or consular officer, or
  • A Notary Public authorised in that country

Need Help?

If you're unsure what you need to provide or whether a check is required, please contact our Registration team:

info@trb.sa.edu.au
+61 8 8253 9700