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, the type of work and if an exemption applies.

You only need a blue or exemption card if the services or activities fall within either a category of regulated employment or regulated business.

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
• justice and detention services
• private teaching, coaching or tutoring
• religious representatives
• residential facilities
• school boarding facilities
• school crossing supervisors
• schools
• sport and active recreation.

People under 18 may also need a blue 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
• 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.
a Queensland police officer working in their professional capacity
a Queensland registered teacher working in their professional capacity as a teacher
a registered health practitioner working in their professional capacity
a Queensland Corrective Services officer working in their professional capacity
an interstate or overseas emergency service workers travelling to Queensland to perform emergency services during a declared disaster or significant fire event.

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.