Blue cards for neighbourhood community centres
You may need a blue card when working or volunteering with children in a neighbourhood community centre. This will depend on the type of work, if an exemption applies and the environment of the work carried out.
Examples
A blue card is needed:
- to conduct children’s support programs. For example, if any counselling or support services are provided to children, individuals involved in these programs require a blue card under the health, counselling and support services category of regulated employment.
- if any child-minding services are provided. For example, if the centre provides a crèche or kids club a blue card is needed under the childcare services category.
- if any services or activities are directed towards children, those involved in those programs will require blue cards. For example, if the centre hosts an under-18s disco with a DJ or themed child’s birthday party, those adults overseeing the event will require blue cards under the churches, clubs and associations category.
A blue card is not needed for:
- holding public community events such as fun runs or movie nights that include food vans or stalls
- working in an op shop or community cafe alongside young people
- providing meals-on-wheels or a school-based traineeship selling groceries to local community members
- hosting a one-off activity or event, such as a community easter egg hunt
- running a seniors program in the community centre for the elderly.
Engaging other business
In some cases, a centre may wish to engage another business to provide services or activities to children during an event. For example, if your centre hosts a family fun day that includes hiring a jumping castle with employees to supervise and assist the children. The relevant category for these services will be the Sport and active recreation category of employment or business.
It will be the responsibility of the individual business to ensure they comply with blue card obligations.
More information
- Read about blue card obligations.
- 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