WorkPro’s Digital Identity Solution & National Police Checking Service

With the Australian Federal Government’s Digital Identity Act released on 1^st December 2024, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s (ACIC) new Nationally Co-ordinated Criminal History Check Agreement coming into effect on 1^st January 2025, there is a shift in the employment compliance landscape, with an increased emphasis on enhancing the protection of an individual’s personal information.

The adoption of a contemporary digital identity solution can contribute to delivering data integrity, protect the individual and the organisation as it relates to securing and maintaining the individual’s identity, reduce the number of systems that documentation is held, whilst enhancing the screening and onboarding process.

So, what does a digital identity solution look like and how can your business leverage the solution to protect your business?

Let’s start with breaking down the regulatory changes in light of the Digital Identity Act and ACIC’s police checking service as it relates to protecting an individual’s privacy, the challenges they create, and how we can help you address them with a seamless and compliant response.

1. The Digital Identity Act: Setting a National Standard for Verification

The Digital Identity Act is an ambitious move by the Australian government to introduce a secure, government-backed digital identity framework that can be used across sectors. The goal is to establish a trusted and efficient way for individuals to prove their identity online, reducing reliance on physical documents and repetitive manual checks.

Key elements of the Digital Identity Act include:

• Enhanced Security and Privacy: The Act mandates stringent protections for personal information, aiming to minimise fraud risk. For businesses, this means a more reliable verification process that reduces the chances of hiring errors and protects sensitive data.
• Efficiency for Users and Businesses: With a government-issued digital ID, individuals can complete one identity verification process that works across various platforms. This approach cuts down on paperwork and the time required for users and businesses, making onboarding faster and simpler.
• Consistency Across Services: The framework enables digital identity verification across sectors, including finance, healthcare, and employment. This universal approach means businesses in all industries can rely on a standardised verification that’s accepted by government and industry bodies alike.

2.  New Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Requirements

In line with the Digital Identity Act, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has introduced more stringent standards for those administering police checks, underpinning the importance of authenticating identity documents and protecting an individual’s privacy in background and probity checks. Key changes include:

• Rigorous Accreditation Requirements: ACIC now demands greater security and protections from police check providers. To maintain compliance, providers must demonstrate strong security measures to protect personal data and comply with ACIC’s data handling and storage protocols.
• Updated Verification Framework: ACIC’s framework aims to minimise risks of fraud and data breaches by enforcing consistent standards for document verification. This update means that police check providers must use reliable verification methods, aligning with the Digital Identity Act’s emphasis on data security.
• Priority on Identity Verification: ACIC has increased its focus on accurate identity verification as a core element of the police checking service process. This move complements the Digital Identity Act, which promotes a standardised, government-backed digital identity as the foundation for accurate background checks.
  

3. The Challenges Organisations Face in Meeting New Compliance Standards

Collectively, the Digital Identity Act and ACIC’s updates are designed to create a more secure, unified approach to identity authentication. However, adopting to these changes can pose challenges in recruitment and during employment:

• Human Error and Inefficiency: Traditional identity verification methods often rely on manual processes, which are prone to human error. This includes the candidate entering data and uploading identity documentation, verifying the documentation and information to remain compliant, which can impact compliance and the candidate experience.
• Exposure to Fraud: Without a rigorous, real-time verification method, organisations risk accepting fraudulent documents, and potentially the recruitment of an individual.
• Data Security and Privacy Compliance: Handling sensitive candidate data requires adherence to strict privacy regulations. Organisations need secure, centralised systems that protect data and provide transparency and control for audits. With both ACIC and the Digital Identity Act mandating high standards, businesses need secure, compliant data management systems that can keep up with evolving standards.

4. WorkPro’s Digital Identity Solution: A Comprehensive Answer to Compliance Demands

WorkPro’s Digital Identity Solution is purpose-built to align with the demands of the Digital Identity Act and ACIC’s updated standards, providing a comprehensive, automated approach to identity verification. It combines four key components—Document Analysis, DVS (Document Verification Service), Biometric Facial Recognition, and the ID Vault—to streamline compliance, secure sensitive data, and deliver the candidate experience. Here’s how it works:

Document Analysis: Automating Accuracy and Reducing Errors

WorkPro’s Document Analysis, powered by Microsoft AI, automates the extraction of critical data from identity documents like passports and birth certificates. This process eliminates manual entry errors by capturing data directly from the documents.

By starting with automated Document Analysis, WorkPro’s solution establishes a foundation of accuracy, ensuring that data is entered correctly in subsequent stages.

DVS Integration: Real-Time Document Verification with Government Standards

Once Document Analysis is complete, WorkPro integrates with the Australian Federal Government’s Document Verification Service (DVS) to cross-check documents in real time against official databases. DVS confirms the legitimacy of each document—passports, licences, birth certificates— improving the authenticity of the document and providing customer confidence as it relates to identity documentation. This process:

• Reduces fraud risk by validating that the documents are genuine.
• Meets compliance with ACIC’s high standards for data accuracy and security.

DVS allows organisations to trust the authenticity of the documents they receive, streamlining the onboarding process by confirming each candidate’s identity.

Biometric Facial Recognition: Adding a Layer of Security with Liveness Checks

To provide an additional layer of security, WorkPro includes Biometric Facial Recognition technology. This step performs a “liveness test,” matching the candidate’s facial features to the image on their ID. This technology:

• Prevents identity fraud by ensuring that the individual submitting the document is the person represented in it.
• Improves accuracy and confidence in hiring decisions, ensuring that only legitimate candidates are onboarded.

By adding facial recognition to the verification process, WorkPro enhances security and aligns with the Digital Identity Act’s emphasis on secure, verifiable identity.

ID Vault: Secure, Compliant Document Management

Finally, WorkPro’s ID Vault securely stores all candidate data with end-to-end encryption. This feature is designed to meet Australian privacy regulations, providing an added layer of protection long after screening and onboarding.

The ID Vault provides peace of mind that a candidate’s sensitive and personal information and documents are stored securely and able to be controlled by the candidate. 

WorkPro’s Digital Identity Solution: Future-Ready, Compliance-Driven

Staying ahead of regulatory requirements is both best practice and protects your organisation from fraud, operational delays, and potential compliance risks. The Digital Identity Act and updated ACIC regulations demand an enhanced level of accuracy, security, and accountability in identity verification processes, inducing businesses to adopt smarter, digital-first solutions.

Without a solution built to address these stringent standards, organisations risk exposure to fraudulent applications, data breaches, and hiring delays that can directly impact their credibility and efficiency. WorkPro’s Digital Identity Solution is designed to help you meet these challenges, combining automated Document Analysis, real-time DVS verification, Biometric Facial Recognition, and secure ID Vault storage—all within a single, compliant platform.

With WorkPro, your team can streamline onboarding, eliminate manual errors, and maintain the highest level of compliance, even as regulatory standards continue to evolve. Don’t leave your business vulnerable to outdated processes; take control of compliance with a solution that’s built for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.

Ready to future-proof your identity verification process? Discover how WorkPro’s Digital Identity Solution can secure your workforce and simplify compliance. Get in touch with us today to learn more and protect your business for the long term.