DBS check

Chiefly a UK term. A DBS check is a criminal-record check run by the Disclosure and Barring Service for England and Wales.

In Australia, do not write DBS. Youth-facing volunteer and paid roles usually sit under state and territory Working with Children Checks — WWCC in New South Wales, Blue Card in Queensland, Working with Children Check in Victoria, and equivalents elsewhere. Those checks are not automatically portable across state borders. A national police check is a different document and does not replace a WWCC where the role requires one.

If a UK volunteer policy says “DBS required,” the Australian equivalent is the check that applies in that state or territory for that role.

Local equivalent: Working with Children Check. Related: blue card.