NV1 - Negative Vetting
NV1 is the abbreviation of negative vetting level 1, which is an Australian Government security clearance governed by the Department of Defence. An NV1 security clearance requires the applicant to provide at least 10 years of background information.
An NV1 engineer is allowed to access classified information and resources that are classified up to and including SECRET.
There are 4 levels of defence security:
- Baseline Vetting: permits access to classified information/resources up to and including PROTECTED.
- Negative Vetting Level 1: permits access to classified information/resources up to and including SECRET.
- Negative Vetting Level 2: permits access to classified information/resources up to and including TOP SECRET.
- Positive Vetting: permits access to resources at all classification levels, including certain types of caveated and codeword information.
If you’re interested in a role with Macquarie Cloud Services and either already have an NV1 clearance or are interested in a role where this is requirement, take a look at our careers page.
Frequently Asked Questions.
NV1 stands for ‘Negative Vetting Level 1’, which is an Australian government security clearance level governed by the Department of Defence. If you are interested in a job with the federal government, or working for the government in an IT capacity, you may require NV1 clearance, and it is mandatory for certain roles. Here at Macquarie Cloud Services, several of our engineers have NV1 clearance.
There are four levels of security clearance set by the Australian Government:
- Baseline clearance – which allows access to ‘protected’ information
- Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) – which enables access to ‘secret’ information
- Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) – which enables access to ‘top secret’ information
- Positive Vetting (PV) – which enables access to ‘top secret’ information when NV2 clearance isn’t enough.
When someone has NV1 clearance, it means they can be trusted to handle and/or manage data that is classified as secret. For instance, here at Macquarie Cloud Services, our NV1 cleared technology specialists are able to service government clients with particularly sensitive data requirements.
An NV1 security clearance requires the applicant to provide at last 10 years of background information. To receive NV1 clearance, an applicant must provide a vast range of personal information and documents. A successful applicant must also be:
- An Australian citizen.
- Sponsored by an Australian Government department or agency.
- Vetted by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency.
There are several documents and pieces of information which applicants need to provide in order to secure NV1 clearance. This can include identity documents, financial details, citizenship details, background information, references, education history and qualifications, and disclosure of any criminal history. Applicants also have to sit security interviews and pass psychological assessments to be eligible.
To get an NV1 (Negative Vetting Level 1) clearance in Australia, you must go through a security clearance process that includes:
- Applying for a job – You typically get an NV1 clearance by applying for a government job that requires access to classified information.
- Initial assessment – The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) will assess your application and start the clearance process if you meet the initial criteria.
- Background checks – The AGSVA will conduct a thorough background investigation, including criminal record checks, financial records, and digital footprints.
- Interviews and references – You will be interviewed and provide character references.
- Review and decision – The AGSVA will review the information and decide if you should be granted NV1 clearance. You will also need to provide the AGSVA with your address information for the past 10 years, including evidence of your current and previous addresses. You can use the myClearance portal to initiate, complete, submit, and track your security clearance application. You can also use the portal to update your contact details and record changes in your personal circumstances. All security clearances require sponsorship by a government or business entity.