Working with Children Check – Blue Cards

Who needs a blue card?

Introduction

Unless an exemption applies, all employees who present to work at a school require a blue card if their work at the school includes, or is likely to include, providing services directed mainly towards children.

Provided below is a guide to the more common types of employee engagements within schools.

For more specific information, please refer to the Blue Card Services website: Blue Card Services > Schools - Employees other than teachers and parents.

If non-teaching staff (paid and unpaid) already hold a current blue card;have an application in progress; or an exemption card application in progress; you must submit aLink an applicant/cardholder to this organisation for government employees form. The paid employee can commence work once this form has been submitted to Blue Card Services.

Volunteers are required to hold a current and valid blue card prior to commencing activities in/arranged by a school (e.g. camps, sports or excursions) and will need to apply for their own blue card. They must not commence providing child-related activities until they hold a current and valid blue card. The frequency of contact a volunteer has with children and young people is irrelevant.

There are certain circumstances where a volunteer may be exempt from requiring a blue card, for example:

  • a volunteer parent of a child enrolled at the school; or
  • a legal guardian of a child enrolled at the school; or
  • if the person is a volunteer guest of a schooland are:

observing or supplying information or entertainment to ten or more people, and

the activity is for ten days or less on no more than two occasions per year, and

the person is unlikely to be alone with a child without another adult present.

  • volunteer at a national or state event organised by a school or recognised body:

for a sporting, cultural or skill-based activity, and

the event is attended by more than 100 people, and

the work is for ten days or less on no more than two occasions per year, and

the person is unlikely to be alone with a child without another adult present.

Parents that volunteer their services or conduct activitiesat their child’s school do not require a blue card. Parents who are also paid employees at the schoolhowever, do require a blue card, as being a parent of a child attending the school does not exempt them from requiring a blue card as a paid employee. The paid employee (parent) can commence employment while the blue card application is being processed.

Non-custodial grandparents and all other relatives require a blue card prior to volunteering to participate in school activities. They are required to hold a current and valid blue card prior to commencing work.

Student teachers undertaking practical teaching sessions (as part of compulsory academic course requirements) must hold a current and valid blue card priorto commencing their practicum at a school. The student teacher’s university/education provider must apply for the blue card.

Where a TAFE teacher does not hold full registration, provisional registration or permission to teach under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (Qld)(‘a registered teacher’) and enters the school grounds to provide services directly to children, that TAFE teacher is required to obtain a blue card.

Businesses engaging with schools need to hold a current and valid blue card prior to commencing work if undertaking the following functions:

  • counselling and support services
  • private teaching, coaching or tutoring, unless paid employees carry out this work in their capacity as an employee of a provider
  • childcare
  • education programs conducted outside of schools
  • religious representatives
  • child accommodation services, including homestays (blue cards are not required by individuals taking billets organised by state schools for less than 10 days on no more than two occasions per year)
  • providers of recreational activities such as sporting camps and programs (excluding amusement parks)
  • operators of hostels for children other than residential facilities.

Further information on who needs a blue card can be found on Blue Card Services website at:

Blue Card Services > Employees > Do I need a blue card?

For further information, please contact:

Blue Card Services
Phone: 1800 113 611
Blue Card Services website

Department of Education

Human Resources - Integrity and Employee Relations

Employee Relations
Phone: (07) 3513 6518
Email:

Uncontrolled copy. Refer to the Department of Education Policy and Procedure Register at
to ensure you have the most current version of this document.

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