Individuals requiring a blue card

To work or volunteer with children you may need a blue or exemption card.

Whether a person needs a blue or exemption card will depend on the environment where the work is performed, type of work and frequency of work.

Organisations that receive state or federal funding may have agreements that require them to comply with working with children legislation.  While it is important to check the requirements it does not automatically mean that everyone in that organisation needs a blue or exemption card.

A person only needs a blue or exemption card if the services or activities fall within a category of regulated employment.

Categories of regulated employment

Select your category of employment from the list below to access information about its blue card requirements:

• care of children under the Child Protection Act 1999
• child accommodation services, including homestays
• childcare services
• churches, clubs and associations
• disability work
• education and care services
• education programs conducted outside of school
• emergency services cadet program
• health, counselling and support services
• private teaching, coaching or tutoring
• religious representatives
• residential facilities
• school boarding facilities
• school crossing supervisors
• schools
• sport and active recreation.

If the services or activities fall within one of these categories, you will need a blue card unless an exemption applies.

People under 18 may also need a blue card.

This list does not include all situations where you may need a blue or exemption card.

When you don’t need a blue card

Not all environments involving children will require a person to hold a blue card.

You don 't need a blue card if you are:

• a paid employee, volunteer or student—and you are not a restricted person or a running a business— who works for no more than 7 days in a calendar year, noting that a
  • calendar year starts from 1 January and ends on 31 December
  • ‘day’ is for any period of time on 1 day, irrespective of whether it is a full day or part day
• a volunteer who is under 18 and is not a restricted person, however if you continue volunteering after you turn 18 you will need to apply for a blue card; we can accept your application 3 months before you turn 18 and—if it’s approved—your card will be issued on your 18th birthday
• an Australian lawyer providing legal or advocacy services
• supervising or working alongside a person who is under 18, for example if you are supervising a 17-year-old colleague or a student while they do work experience, including school students
• involved in a team, club or group activity that also has members under 18, for example if you participate in an under-20s sports group with a member who is 17.

An organisation may ask a person to sign a declaration before entering a child-related regulated environment, stating that they have not exceeded the frequency exemption and are not a restricted person. This is part of a risk management strategy that assists the organisation to create safe environments for children.