Security
Clearances

The Assurance of an Individual’s Suitability

Security Clearance Sponsorship

Allectum is able to reactivate, upgrade or sponsor new security clearances for its employees, future team members and sub contractors. Our DISP membership enables this to ensure we are able to provide professional services via suitably qualified staff to our Defence and National Security clients.

Purpose of a Security

Clearance

Under the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), personnel that need ongoing access to security classified resources must hold a security clearance at the appropriate level.

Security classified resources include Protected, Secret and Top Secret information, systems that hold classified information, and classified assets. A person may also be required to hold a security clearance if they occupy a position of trust requiring additional assurance about the integrity of the position’s occupant.

A security clearance is not required to access information that does not have a security classification, including Official or Official: Sensitive information. For this type of information, routine employment screening is sufficient.

What Security Clearances are there?

An Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) security clearance provides a point in time assurance of an individual’s suitability to have trusted access to sensitive information. A security clearance is often an essential requirement of many government-related projects within Commonwealth, Defence or National Security agencies.

Baseline

Level: Protected

Information Access Permitted

Classified resources up to and including PROTECTED

Level Conditional Access

N/A

Negative Vetting 1 (NV1)

Level: Secret

Information Access Permitted

Classified resources up to and including SECRET

Level Conditional Access

NV1 security clearance holders can be provided with temporary access to TOP SECRET classified resources in certain circumstances.

Negative Vetting 2 (NV2)

Level: Top Secret

Information Access Permitted

Classified resources up to and including TOP SECRET

Level Conditional Access

An NV2 security clearance will be sufficient for most roles requiring intermittent access to TOP SECRET classified resources.

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Security Clearance Vetting Process

The purpose of the security vetting process is to determine whether an individual is suitable to hold a security clearance—that is, whether they possess and demonstrate an appropriate level of integrity. In the security context, integrity is defined as a range of character traits that indicate the individual is able to protect Australian Government resources. These character traits are: honesty, trustworthiness, maturity, tolerance, resilience and loyalty.

Clearance Sponsor

The clearance sponsor is the organisation who requires the individual to access Australian Government sensitive or classified information, they submit the initial request with AGSVA to initiate the clearance process.

Vetting Officer

An AGSVA-appointed Vetting Officer assesses an applicant’s suitability for security clearance by reviewing their information and making a recommendation based on both applicant-provided and independently collected data.

Assistant Secretary Vetting (ASV)

The Assistant Secretary Vetting (ASV) is the security clearance delegate, within AGSVA, authorised to grant, deny, or revoke an existing Australian Government security clearance.

Security Clearance Timeframes

The table below shows the standard process and timeframes for each security clearance level.

Clearance	Level	AGSVA Issues ePack	Applicant Completes ePack	AGSVA Completes Assessment
Baseline	PROTECTED	5-10 (business days)	20 (business days)	20 (business days)
Negative Vetting 1 (NV1)	SECRET	5-10 (business days)	20 (business days)	70 (business days)
Negative Vetting 2 (NV2)	TOP SECRET	5-10 (business days)	20 (business days)	100 (business days)

The timeframes above can be heavily influenced by the seasonal load placed upon AGSVA by other government agencies.

Security Clearance Assessment Checks

The assessment of a clearance subject needs to establish confidence that they possess a sound and stable character, and that they are not unduly vulnerable to influence or coercion. The PSPF requires that any doubt regarding an individual’s suitability to hold a security clearance be resolved in the national interest.

Depending on the Security Clearance request, AGSVA will conduct the following checks once an AGSVA ePack has been submitted.

Check	Baseline	NV1	NV2
Verification of Identity
Engage Responsively With The Process
Confirmation of Australian Citizenship and Status of Any Other Citizenships
Background Check (Years)	10	10	10
Referee Check
Digital Footprint Check
National Police Check
Financial History Check
Financial Statement
ASIO Assessment
Security Interview

AGSVA may ask for additional information or undertake additional checks and interviews during the vetting assessment process, if there is need to do so in order to resolve a security clearance decision in the interest of national security.

Security Clearance FAQ’s

Who is eligible?

In order to be eligible for an Australian Government security clearance, an individual must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Australian citizenship – determined by the sponsoring entity before requesting a clearance
Checkable background – determined by AGSVA as part of the vetting assessment

Who is suitable?

In addition to confirming an individual is eligible to hold an Australian Government security clearance, AGSVA will determine if an individual is suitable to hold a security clearance. This is done by conducting certain checks prescribed by the Australian Government’s Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), and making an assessment of the individual’s overall integrity using the following character traits:

honesty
trustworthiness
maturity
tolerance
resilience
loyalty

The PSPF requires that any doubt regarding an individual’s suitability to hold a security clearance must be resolved in the national interest.

Additional mandatory criteria

To be sponsored by Allectum and be granted a security clearance by AGSVA you must be an Australian Citizen.

Does Allectum guarantee a clearance will be awarded?

No, AGSVA manages the clearance process independently of any sponsoring organisation.

What are the fees involved?

Security clearance fees vary depending on your circumstances and clearance requirements. Please submit a clearance enquiry to explore your options further.

How long do security clearances last?

All security clearances are required to be reviewed at regular intervals. The interval depends on the level of the security clearance as outlined below. AGSVA will advise you when your security clearance is due for review.

Clearance Renewal:

Baseline – 15 years
NV1 – 10 years
NV2 – 7 years
TSPV – 7 years

What is the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA)?

AGSVA is the central vetting agency for the Australian Government and conducts security clearance assessments for federal, state and territory agencies.

More information can be found on their website: https://www1.defence.gov.au/security/clearances

What is the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP)?

DISP, managed by the Defence Industry Security Office (DISO), supports Australian businesses to understand and meet their security obligations when engaging in Defence projects, contracts and tenders. It is essentially security vetting for Australian businesses.

More information can be found on their website: https://www1.defence.gov.au/security/industry

Security
Clearances