The security clearance process has stringent requirements which can be a burden to navigate. To combat this problem, the Defence Teaming Centre is able to provide assistance to companies needing guidance when it comes to clearing staff.
A requirement of many Defence projects is that personnel hold a security clearance to ensure documents and equipment with national security classification are placed only in the care of people who are honest, trustworthy, mature, tolerant, loyal and willing to safeguard those resources.
The Defence Security Authority (DSA) is responsible for the processing of the majority of Defence's security clearances. The assessment process is costly and time intensive and is based on a large range of criteria. The three primary objectives of the process are to verify identity, background and character.
What are the principles of Personnel Security?
Due to the cost and time intensive process of vetting, it is essential that the absolute minimum number of Australian Defence organisation employees and Defence contractors are security cleared. On average, the Defence Security Authority (DSA) process thousands of applications per year, and at a considerable cost per applicant, it is essential that this process is restricted to only those which are mandatory.
Those personnel who are granted security clearances are assessed as suitable and are aware of their responsibilities in handling security classified resources. There are severe punishments for breaches of these rules.
Periodic reviews will be conducted of all personnel at various times according to their level of clearance, to ensure that clearance holders remain suitable over time for continued access to the restricted work and information.
What are the clearance levels?There are five (5) levels of clearances available:
- Restricted
- Confidential
- Secret
- Top Secret (Negative Vetting)
- Top Secret (Positive Vetting)
Periodic reviews will be conducted of all personnel at various times according to their level of clearance, to ensure that clearance holders remain suitable over time for continued access to the restricted work and information.
The process you must undergo to obtain a clearance, especially of a higher level is stringent and can be time consuming. The first and most important eligibility criteria is citizenship. In almost all instances, you must be an Australian Citizen to obtain a security clearance.
In some instances, a citizenship waiver may be given surmising you meet strict criteria. A citizenship waiver may be issued when a person has unique and specialised skills and knowledge, or there is a lack of available and willing people to undertake a specific task or job, and there is an approved authority.
Another important eligibility criteria issue is whether or not you have a checkable background. This means you must be able to have a traceable history and verification of your location and identity for a certain period. For Confidential clearances, you must have a checkable history of at least five (5) years. For Secret and Top Secret the bar is slightly higher, and you must have a checkable history of ten years.
Excessive periods in the timeframes above that cannot be verified or accounted for, will render your background ‘uncheckable’. If this occurs, it is highly unlikely you will be eligible for a security clearance. Uncheckable background waivers are granted only in very exceptional circumstances.
What are the objectives of Personnel Security Clearances?There are three primary objectives of personnel security, which aim to ensure that classified resources are trusted to only those who display a high level of consistency. The three objectives are:
- Verify identity
- Verify background
- Verify character
What are the suitability indicators for Personnel Security Clearances?The suitability indicators act as a guide to assessing the type of behaviour or history that may demonstrate a mature and responsible attitude, and indicate suitability to hold a security clearance, including:
- Maturity
- Trustworthiness
- Honesty
- Tolerance and
- Loyalty
Areas that are assessed include, but are not limited to:
- Identity and Background
- Drug use (includes alcohol)
- Sexual activities
- Financial Responsibilities
- Overseas connections and travel
- Political extremism
- Influence of others
- Contacts with foreign diplomats and officials
- Suspect activities
- Criminal activities
- Security record reliability
- Other personal issues
- Religion-extremist groups or cults
What is the difference between Positive Vetting and Negative Vetting?Positive Vetting (PV) clearances are only granted when suitability has been demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt, and applies only in conjunction with the Top Secret Clearance. PV is the most comprehensive vetting process and required for those personnel who need access to Top Secret compartmentalized information, with a brief.
Negative Vetting (NV) seeks to identify anything concerning the clearance subject that is likely to pose a vulnerability. NV applies to Top Secret, Secret, Confidential and Restricted Clearances. NV is not as comprehensive as the PV process, and it allows those who are cleared to the Top Secret Negative Vetting (TSNV) to access limited compartmentalized information if briefed.
What is the Top Secret Clearance Process?The Top Secret clearance process is both thorough and rigorous. The process begins when an applicant submits a clearance application. This will then result in numerous checks being conducted, including the mandatory checks (eg ASIO, criminal history), other checks ( eg credit history), interviewing of the applicant and listed referees and a psychological assessment performed by a trained professional. After this process occurs, an analysis will be conducted of the applicant and a decision will be made.
For positive vetting clearances, the requirements are significantly tighter. Clearances will be re-evaluated every five years to ensure relevancy, reaffirm the person still meets the criteria, revalidation will need to occur every 30 months and changes of circumstances will need to be reported as soon as possible.
What is the Secret and Confidential Clearance Process? The Secret and Confidential process, whilst rigorous is not as strict and intense as the Top Secret Process. An applicant will lodge a clearance, they will then undergo the mandatory and other checks as mentioned above. However; unlike Top Secret, the applicant and referees do not need to be interviewed and no psychological assessment is required to receive the clearance. After the checks occur, an analysis will be conducted of the applicant and a decision will be made.
For negative vetting clearances, reevaluation for Top Secret clearances will occur every five years, and nine years for Secret clearances. For Top Secret clearances, revalidation will need to occur every thirty (30) months, and every three (3) years for Secret clearances. As with positive vetting, change of circumstances will need to be reported as soon as possible.
What is the Restricted Clearance Process?The restricted clearance, being at the lowest level is subject to three checks,identity check, police check and citizenship check.
Recruiters source clearances for Australian Defence Force (ADF) recruits, DSAonly organizes clearances for industry.