Disability Worker Screening Clearance

Everyone has the right to be safe and protected from harm. Queensland Government Disability Worker Screening administers a screening process that checks a person’s criminal history against specific criteria to determine whether they are suitable to work with people with disabilities.

It is also an ongoing assessment of your eligibility to work with people with disabilities while you are on placement. This is relevant for placement providers who are registered to provide care as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or are state funded to provide care to people with disabilities. In some instances, this may include aged care facilities.

Overview

You should only apply for a disability worker screening clearance (DWSC) if your placement provider requires it. Do not apply for a disability worker screening clearance unless you are advised to do so.
If your application is approved, you will be issued with a clearance to work with people with a disability while on placement for five (5) years.
If you hold an existing valid DWSC/Yellow Card you can continue to provide care to people with disabilities until your card expires. You are responsible for having your application for a renewed clearance be submitted and verified before your card expires. You can apply for a clearance up to 3 months before the expiry of your yellow card.
It is your responsibility to hold a valid clearance for the duration of your placement.
If you are a disqualified person, it is an offence to apply for a disability worker screening clearance and penalties may apply.
If you are required to hold a valid clearance, it is against the law for you to commence or continue your placement without one under the No Card, No Start law (PDF) .

If you need both a Disability Worker Screening Clearance and Working with Children Check (blue card)

Doctor of Medicine students: You need to submit a combined application for both the Disability Worker Screening Clearance and Working with Children Check (blue card). You must apply through Disability Worker Screening – don't apply directly to Blue Card Services.

All other HMBS students: You must apply separately for the Disability Worker Screening Clearance and Working with Children Check (blue card) if both are required for your placement. Do not submit a combined application.

What you will need to apply

You will need a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) customer reference number (CRN) in order to prove your identity when registering for a Disability Worker Screening account..

Your CRN is shown on a range of TMR products including a Queensland driver’s license or proof of age card. You can find your CRN in the top right area on the front of your card.

If you don’t already have a Queensland TMR customer reference number, you will need to obtain one before you can progress your disability worker screening application.

How to get a customer reference number

To obtain a TMR customer reference number, check which identity and Queensland residential address documents you will need, then take these documents to a TMR centre in person and request a customer reference number. The staff will take your photo, then you will need to wait for the letter or email confirming your CRN. Keep this in a safe place.

International students

If you are an international student, you should arrive in Queensland with enough time to complete both the customer reference number and then the disability worker screening process before your placement commences.

It is possible to apply for a CRN using a Remote Pack, however this is a lengthy process and not guaranteed to be approved before your placement commences, and no longer recommended.

How to apply

Once you have your customer reference number (CRN) from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), apply for your Disability Worker Screening Clearance.

Student applications are free as you're classed a volunteer.

Apply as soon as possible. Time required for the application process:

Doctor of Medicine combined DWSC and blue card applications: 4–8 weeks
DWSC-only applications (all other HMBS students): at least 5 days plus UQ processing time for DWSC-only applications (can take longer if further investigation is needed).

Step 1: Register for a Disability Worker Screening account

You will need to register here for a Disability Worker Screening account before you can apply for your clearance. You only need to register once.

Step 2: Log in to the portal

Once you have registered online for a Disability Worker Screening account, you will need to login to the Worker Screening Portal to apply for your screening clearance.

Step 3: Complete your application

Complete all required questions.

Application type

Doctor of Medicine students (combined DWSC and blue card application): Select 'I am applying for a Disability Worker Screening Check AND a Working with Children Check (Blue Card)'
Doctor of Medicine students who already have a blue card: Select 'I am applying for a Disability Worker Screening Check (NDIS Worker Screening or Queensland Disability Worker Screening) only'
All other HMBS students: Select 'I am applying for a Disability Worker Screening Check (NDIS Worker Screening or Queensland Disability Worker Screening) only'

Employer details

In Section 5 – Employer Details you will be asked to confirm the primary purpose and area of service delivery you will be using your Disability Worker Screening Clearance for, as well as the name of your employer.

Purpose: Select 'Volunteer'
Area of service delivery: Select 'NDIS Improved Health and Wellbeing' (unless another obvious choice is more relevant for your placement activities, for example an occupational therapy student might choose 'NDIS Improved Daily Living Skills' or a counselling student might choose 'NDIS Improved Relationships')
Employer: Enter 'The University of Queensland' (Employer ID 4-433C-2267).

Step 4: Submit your application

Submit your application, and it will be directed to NDIS to initiate your screening.

Once you have received your clearance, your disability worker screening card will be mailed to your nominated address. UQ will also be notified when your application has been approved so there is nothing further for you to do.

Doctor of Medicine students

Once your DWSC is processed, your application will be transferred to Blue Card Services. They will issue you with a blue card account number.

Upload your blue card account number to the designated attribute in InPlace. We will then link your account with UQ.

Your disability worker screening card and blue card will be mailed to your nominated address. UQ will also be notified when your application has been approved so there is nothing further for you to do.

Existing Disability Workers Screening Clearance

If you have an existing clearance from Queensland or from another state in Australia, please upload an image of your current card/evidence of clearance, along with the reference number and expire date, to the 'DWSC (Yellow card)' attribute in InPlace.

Doctor of Medicine students

If you already have a Disability Worker Screening Clearance you must also apply for a blue card using the blue card application for disability service workers.

Disability Worker Screening Clearance

Overview

If you need both a Disability Worker Screening Clearance and Working with Children Check (blue card)

What you will need to apply

How to get a customer reference number

International students

How to apply

Step 1: Register for a Disability Worker Screening account

Step 2: Log in to the portal

Step 3: Complete your application

Application type

Employer details

Step 4: Submit your application

Doctor of Medicine students

Existing Disability Workers Screening Clearance

Doctor of Medicine students

Further information

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