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Check any Australian business, licence, or employer — free

A step-by-step checklist for business owners, backpackers, and workers. Tap a section to start.

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How to use this: Work through each section in order. Each links directly to the official government register. If something comes back red, a checklist alone won't resolve it.

Check the registration, status, and history of any Australian company or business.

  • ABN Lookup: Check if an ABN is active, cancelled, or recently registered. A new ABN on an established trading name is a classic phoenix indicator.
  • ASIC Registers: Search company history, director changes, name changes, and insolvency notices.
  • PPSR: Check if assets are already secured by someone else — critical if you supply goods on retention of title terms.
  • AFSA Bankruptcy Register: Check if a director or business owner is bankrupt or has a history of insolvency.
ABN Lookup abr.business.gov.au ASIC Registers asic.gov.au PPSR Search ppsr.gov.au AFSA Bankruptcy Register afsa.gov.au
Red flag: An active ABN with a recent registration date and a trading name that previously belonged to a failed entity.

Verify that a business or individual holds the required licence for their industry.

  • Labour Hire Licensing: In Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, labour hire providers must be licensed. Check the relevant state register before engaging one.
  • Rail Safety Accreditation: Rail transport operators must be accredited by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR). Check the National Rail Safety Register.
  • Working Holiday Maker Employer Register: Employers of backpackers must be registered with the ATO. Check if a potential employer is registered.
VIC Labour Hire Licence Check labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au QLD Labour Hire Register labourhire.qld.gov.au SA Labour Hire Licence Check sa.gov.au National Rail Safety Register onrsr.com.au
Red flag: A labour hire provider that cannot produce a valid licence number, or a rail operator that doesn't appear on the ONRSR register.

If something in these checks doesn't add up, Sentinel can investigate further — every finding tied to its source, no assumptions.

sentinelduediligence.com.au →

If you're on a working holiday visa, check your employer before you accept a job.

  • Working Holiday Maker Employer Register: Employers of backpackers must be registered with the ATO. If they're not on the register, they're not operating legally.
  • VEVO: Check your own visa details and work conditions using the Department of Home Affairs' Visa Entitlement Verification Online system.
  • Fair Work Ombudsman: Check pay rates, leave entitlements, and workplace rights. If an employer is underpaying, you can report them.
  • Labour Hire Licensing: If you're placed by a labour hire company, check they hold a valid licence in your state.
Working Holiday Maker Register ato.gov.au VEVO — Check Your Visa immi.homeaffairs.gov.au Fair Work Ombudsman fairwork.gov.au
Red flag: An employer who asks you to start work before they've registered as a Working Holiday Maker employer with the ATO.

Check whether a company or its directors have a history of insolvency, unpaid debts, or regulatory action.

  • AFSA Bankruptcy Register: Check if an individual is bankrupt or has been involved in personal insolvency proceedings.
  • Insolvency Notices: Search for companies that have entered liquidation, administration, or receivership.
  • ATO: Check for director penalty notices and GST debt — these often precede insolvency.
  • Fair Work Commission: Check for unpaid wages and superannuation claims against a company.
AFSA Bankruptcy Register afsa.gov.au ASIC Insolvency Notices publishednotices.asic.gov.au ATO ato.gov.au Fair Work Commission fwc.gov.au
Red flag: A director with a pattern of insolvencies across multiple entities, or a company with a prior administration under a different name.

Some licences and permits are issued by state regulators, not federal agencies. Check the relevant state body for your industry.

  • Queensland: Labour Hire Licensing Queensland — search the online register for licensed providers.
  • South Australia: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) — search the public register for labour hire licensees.
  • Victoria: Labour Hire Authority — check a provider's licence status and see enforcement actions.
  • National Rail Safety: ONRSR — check accreditation, registrations, and exemptions for rail transport operators.
QLD Labour Hire labourhire.qld.gov.au SA CBS Labour Hire sa.gov.au VIC Labour Hire Authority labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au ONRSR Registers onrsr.com.au
Red flag: A provider that operates in a state with mandatory licensing but cannot produce a licence number.

This checklist is a starting point. Not a full investigation.

If any of these steps come back red, a DIY check won't resolve it. Sentinel Due Diligence runs full desktop, labour hire, and field investigations — with every finding tied to its source.

See Sentinel Due Diligence →

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