SAFE NT (Screening Assessment for Employment – Northern Territory) is a Northern Territory Government service, operated by NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services, that provides Working With Children Checks, National Police Checks and NDIS Worker Screening checks for employment and licensing purposes.
SAFE NT (Screening Assessment for Employment – Northern Territory) is an official Northern Territory Government service operated by NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services. It processes background checks for people working or volunteering in certain jobs and industries, including Working With Children Clearance/Ochre Cards, National Police Checks, and NDIS Worker Screening checks. These clearances are commonly required for teachers, childcare and aged‑care workers, disability support workers, health staff, public sector employees, contractors and volunteers across the NT.
A charge from “SAFE NT” typically appears when you apply and pay for one of these clearances, renew an existing card/clearance, or request a new National Police Check. Most payments are one‑off application fees paid online or at the time you lodge your paperwork, often using a debit or credit card. You may also see separate SAFE NT charges if you submit more than one application (for example, both an Ochre Card and an NDIS Worker Screening check), or if an employer or organisation has asked you to obtain an updated check. Charges will usually match the current application fee for the specific check type, and there are often reduced fees for eligible volunteers or concession holders.
If you’re unsure about a SAFE NT charge, first think about whether you recently started a job, placement or volunteering role that required a police check, Working With Children clearance, or NDIS Worker Screening. Check your email for SAFE NT confirmation messages, receipts or application references, and compare the date and amount with the charge on your statement. For help, visit pfes.nt.gov.au and navigate to the SAFE NT section to find current contact details, online forms and fee information; you can also quote your full name, date of birth and any application or clearance number so they can quickly locate your record. If the payment doesn’t seem to be yours, contact SAFE NT and your bank promptly to request clarification and, if necessary, dispute the transaction.
Bank Statement Variations
2 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to SAFE NT.
Why was I charged by SAFE NT? I don’t remember buying anything
SAFE NT charges relate to background screening for employment or volunteering, not to retail purchases. You were most likely charged for a Working With Children Clearance (Ochre Card), an NDIS Worker Screening check, or a National Police Check that you recently submitted for a job, licence, placement, professional registration or volunteering role. Check recent job applications, onboarding paperwork or volunteer sign‑ups to see if you were asked to complete a SAFE NT check. If you still don’t recognise it, contact SAFE NT via the details on pfes.nt.gov.au so they can look up the payment against your name and date of birth.
What are the typical SAFE NT fees and why are there different amounts?
SAFE NT fees vary depending on the type of check and whether you are applying as a paid worker or a volunteer/concession holder. Working With Children Clearance (Ochre Card) and NDIS Worker Screening checks usually have a higher fee for paid employment and a reduced fee for eligible volunteers or certain concession card holders; National Police Checks are typically a separate, lower one‑off fee. Because fees are reviewed from time to time, the safest way to confirm the exact amount you were charged is to check the current fee schedule on the SAFE NT section of pfes.nt.gov.au or on your email receipt. If your charge differs from the advertised fee, contact SAFE NT with your payment details so they can verify it.
Is the SAFE NT charge a subscription or recurring payment?
No, SAFE NT charges are generally one‑off application or renewal fees, not ongoing subscriptions. However, clearances such as Working With Children or NDIS Worker Screening are only valid for a set period (often up to five years), so you may see another charge when you renew or re‑apply before your clearance expires. Employers may also require updated National Police Checks at regular intervals, which can result in new one‑off charges over time. If you see multiple charges in a short period, check whether you lodged more than one application or accidentally submitted a duplicate.
How can I cancel a SAFE NT application or stop future charges?
Because SAFE NT provides statutory screening services, applications you’ve already submitted generally cannot be “cancelled” like a subscription once processing has started, and the fee is usually non‑refundable. To avoid future charges, simply do not re‑apply or renew when your current clearance is nearing expiry, and inform your employer if you no longer need the clearance. If you believe you submitted an application in error or twice by mistake, contact SAFE NT as soon as possible with your application details to see whether it can be withdrawn before processing. Their current contact options are listed on the SAFE NT page at pfes.nt.gov.au.
How do I get a receipt or invoice for my SAFE NT payment?
When you submit and pay for an application online, SAFE NT normally issues an electronic confirmation and payment receipt to the email address you provided. Check your inbox and spam/junk folders for messages from SAFE NT or from the NT Government relating to your specific check type. If you applied in person or cannot locate your receipt, you can request a copy by contacting SAFE NT and providing your full name, date of birth, approximate payment date and the last four digits of the card used. This documentation is often accepted by employers or for tax and reimbursement purposes.
How do I request a refund or query an incorrect SAFE NT charge?
Refunds from SAFE NT are limited because the fee covers the cost of assessment work that begins soon after you submit an application. If you believe you were charged twice, charged the wrong fee type (e.g. worker instead of volunteer), or charged when your application was never completed, gather your bank statement, any SAFE NT emails and application reference numbers. Then contact SAFE NT through the details on pfes.nt.gov.au, explain the situation clearly, and ask them to review the transaction and advise whether a refund or fee adjustment is possible. If they confirm the charge is not from them or cannot locate it, follow up with your bank to dispute the payment.
Why do I see more than one SAFE NT transaction or a small pending amount?
Multiple SAFE NT transactions can occur if you submitted more than one application (for example, a Working With Children clearance and a separate National Police Check) or if a payment was retried after initially failing. In some cases, your bank may show a pending or temporary authorisation before the final charge settles, especially if there was a payment error or you resubmitted your card details. Pending holds normally disappear automatically within a few business days and only the final approved payment is kept. If you see both a pending and a posted SAFE NT amount after several days, contact your bank and SAFE NT to confirm which payments actually went through.
How can I confirm which SAFE NT check I paid for and whether my clearance is approved?
Your payment alone won’t always state the check type, but SAFE NT can confirm this by looking up your record. Check your email for application confirmations that mention “Working With Children Clearance (Ochre Card)”, “National Police Check” or “NDIS Worker Screening”, as these will usually include an application or reference number. If you can’t find the details, contact SAFE NT via the channels listed on pfes.nt.gov.au, provide your identifying information and payment date, and ask them to confirm the type and status of your application. They can tell you whether it is pending, approved, or if further documents are needed.