Police Vetting Requirements for Award Leaders

The Award sees this process as best practice, and essential for us to ensure that Award participants are safeguarded. It is a basic requirement for being an Award Leader. This process is echoed by other public and not-for-profit organisations who are involved with the care of others - especially children, young people and those considered vulnerable in any way.

It is important for the safety for everyone concerned and for other agencies we work with, that we are completely open and transparent. Police Vetting is part of this process.

We do not expect that any issues will be raised by the Police Vetting of people working on behalf of the Award, but it provides an important safety net. If anyone's status changes, it is important for you to let us know.

Yes, while you may have a Police Vetting check as part of an existing job or role, the check is only valid for when it is completed and for the requirements of that role. Police Vetting by the Award will be at a level which meets Award requirements and at the level of risk for the role held with the Award.

Police provide a vetting service for approved agencies who provide care to children, older people, and vulnerable members of society in New Zealand.

A Police Vetting result may include any information held by the New Zealand Police whereas a Ministry of Justice Criminal Record check will only contain conviction history. For the purposes of the Award, we use the fuller Police Vetting process.

All checks for those involved with the Award are submitted through the National Office as an "Approved Agency". The police vetting forms, including results, are securely stored by the Award for no more than 12 months and then are permanently destroyed. The Award will not share this information with any other agency or individual. No adverse action will be taken against the person concerned without them having an opportunity to validate the vetting information. A person, under the Privacy Act 2020, can request information about themselves held by the Award.

The Request and Consent form must be completed and returned to the Award ([email protected]) or PO Box 38189, Lower Hutt 5045 along with copies of two forms of ID - primary and secondary and the Evidence of Identity form. These copies need to be noted as true and correct copies either at the Award National Office or by an Identity Referee.

The applications are lodged with the Police Vetting agency by the Award.

There is no charge to be Police Vetted by the Award. If you have recently moved from Australia, the Award will complete the Australian Police Vetting process for you. The Award will cover the cost of this.

Current identity documents are preferred, but documents that have expired within the past five years may be accepted (e.g., passport).

Primary IDs are:

• Passport (NZ or Overseas)
• NZ Firearms Licence
• NZ Full Birth Certificate (issued on or after 1998)
• NZ Citizenship Certificate
• NZ Refugee Travel Document
• NZ Emergency Travel Document
• NZ Certificate of Identity

Secondary IDs include:

• NZ Driver Licence
• 18+ card
• NZ Full Birth Certificate (issued before 1998)
• Community Services Card
• SuperGold Card
• NZ Employee Photo Identification Card
• NZ Student Photo Identification Card
• Inland Revenue number
• NZ issued utility bill (issued within the past six months)
• NZ Teachers Registration Certificate
• NZ Electoral Roll Record
• International Driving Permit
• Steps to Freedom Form

To verify an applicant’s identity, the Identity Referee must:

• Sight the original versions of each identity document
• Compare the photographic image with the applicant to confirm they are the same person
• Sign and date a copy of each document to verify that the documents produced by the applicant relate to that person
• Provide his or her name and contact details
• Send the signed identity documents to the Approved Agency ([email protected])