Blue cards for care of children under the Child Protection Act 1999

You will need a blue card if you are undertaking work as a foster or kinship carer, are an adult living in foster or kinship home or are working within a licensed residential facility.

Employees and volunteers

You will need a blue card if you:

• provide care for a child as an approved carer—not including a provisionally approved carer
• are an adult living in a home where care is being provided for a child
• will be doing any work inside a licensed residential facility
• are performing a risk-assessed role for a licensed care service.

Examples

A blue card is needed for

• A foster or kinship carer not including a provisionally approved carer.
• Any adult that resides in a house where home care is being provided to a child. For example, if you reside in a house with your partner or other family member and foster care is being provided, you will be required to hold a blue card.
• An individual performing work within a licensed residential facility
• Performing a risk-assessed role for a licensed care service. A risk-assessed role refers to roles in a licensed care service that can allow a person to build a strong and trusting relationships with a child. As risk-assessed role includes carrying out any of the following towards a child:
  • physical touching by:
    • providing direct or personal care
    • supervision
    • supporting in activities and other events.
  • building rapport with a child that provides the opportunity to develop a trusting relationship in person, verbally, in writing or online
  • access to the personal information of a child that could enable contact to be made
    • within or outside the care service
    • through verbally, written or online communication
    • via a significant person in the child’s life
    • after the child is no longer cared for by the licensed care service.

A risk-assessed role is defined in section 123A of the Child Protection Act 1999. Read more about what a risk-assessed role is in table 2 of the Suitability and screening requirements for child safety licensed care services guide or download licensing resources.

A blue card is not needed for a:

• Provisionally approved foster or kinship carer whilst your blue card application is being assessed.
• Individual not performing a risk-assessed role within a licensed care service.

Business owners and operators

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include carrying out activities or providing services inside a licensed residential facility—a place where the children reside. This is captured under the businesses relating to licensed care services under the Child Protection Act 1999.

Examples

A blue card is needed if you:

• are responsible for directly managing a licensed care service
• a business operator working as a contractor or tradesmen at a licensed care service.