Blue cards for Amusement parks and arcades
From 20 September 2025 the below changes will take effect.
You will need a blue card if you are working with children at an amusement park or arcade.
However, you do not need a blue card if your duties at the amusement park or arcade are limited to providing food, beverages or equipment and, there is no further contact with children.
When applying you will need to apply under one of the following categories:
- entertainment, beauty and photography, which captures anyone working within the entertainment industry
- sport and active recreation, gyms and play facilities, which captures anyone providing sport or recreational activities.
Amusement parks
An amusement park is a place where people go for entertainment which usually consists of various attractions such as games, rides, shows and other activities. If you are providing services to children within an amusement park, theme park, festival, fete, exhibition, carnival, or fair you will need a blue card.
Examples
A blue card is needed at an amusement park for:
- costumed entertainers (e.g. Bluey, Batman, Elsa, etc), under the entertainment, beauty and photography category
- character chaperones, roving entertainers and photographers under the entertainment, beauty and photography category
- musicians and performers under the entertainment, beauty and photography category
- ride operators who supervise children rides under the sport and active recreation, gyms and play facilities category
- lifeguards supervising children at a waterpark under the sport and active recreation, gyms and play facilities category.
A blue card is not needed for:
- staff who provide lighting, sound or any other equipment
- catering staff who providing food and beverages.
Amusement or video arcades
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a place where people go to play machines or games. If you are providing services to children within an amusement arcade, you will need a blue card.
Examples
A blue card is needed at an amusement arcade or video arcade for:
- staff who host children’s birthday parties under the sport and active recreation, gyms and play facilities category.
A blue card is not needed for:
- staff who provide lighting, sound or any other equipment
- catering staff providing food and beverages.
Business owners and operators
You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include operating an amusement park or arcade targeted to children.
Examples
A blue card is needed for a business owner or operator providing:
- children’s rides or services as part of an amusement park (e.g. theme park, waterparks, exhibitions, festivals, regional shows, fetes, fairs and carnivals)
- children’s games or services as part of an arcade.
A blue card is not needed for a business owner or operator providing:
- services only to adults.
- canteen or food or beverages services at a festival or fete.
- maintenance services, which include conducting safety checks on equipment.
More information
- Upcoming changes to the blue card system.
- Executive officers and board or committee members of a regulated child-related organisation require a blue card.
- Understand linking requirements for organisations.
- Check when you don’t need a blue card
- Who cannot apply for or hold a blue card
- Learn how to apply for a blue or exemption card