Blue cards for registered health practitioners
A registered health practitioner is any person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, except students.
When health practitioners don’t need a blue card
A registered health practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is exempt from requiring a blue card when:
- employed or carrying on a business as part of their professional duties as a registered health practitioner, or
- studying a degree that relates to their current AHPRA registration.
When health practitioners need a blue card
As a registered health practitioner you may need a blue card when working with children or young people outside your professional duties in certain categories of regulated employment. For example:
- a registered physiotherapist who coaches a childrens’ sports team will need a blue card under the Churches, clubs and associations involving children category
- an occupational therapist who charges money for children's piano lessons would need a blue card under the Private teaching, coaching or tutoring category
- a school nurse who also supervises children during lunchtime or before/after school play would need a blue card under the Schools—Employees other than teachers and parents category
- a doctor hosting an international homestay student under 18 years of age would need a blue card under the Child accommodation services including home stays category
- a midwife who volunteers for a children’s helpline will need a blue card under the Health, counselling and support services category.
The above examples show that a blue card is required as the person’s child-related activities do not relate to their work as a registered health practitioner.
A registered health practitioner will also need a blue card if they are undertaking a child-related practicum placement or other regulated activities as a part of studying a degree outside the scope of their AHPRA registration. For example, a registered physiotherapist studying childcare will need a blue card to undertake activities within a childcare centre.
When applying for a blue card the university, TAFE or private college where a registered health practitioner is studying an unrelated degree must be nominated as the employer.