Blue cards for tradespeople

Whether a tradesperson requires a blue card will depend on the environment in which the work is being performed and the type and frequency of the work.

The Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the Act) does not apply to every environment where a child may be present and not everyone needs a blue card.

Individuals and business owners/operators who engage in child-related regulated activities without a blue card may be committing an offence which may result in penalties.

Regulated business owner/operators have additional obligations and must have a child and youth risk management strategy.

Tradespersons working in environments regulated by the Act for not more than seven days in a calendar year do not need a blue card.

A calendar year is defined as from 1 January to 31 December. A day can be anything from one hour to 12 hours.

A restricted person or a business owner/operator cannot rely on the frequency exemption.

When you need a blue card

There are certain regulated child-related environments where tradespeople may need a blue card if the work they do is more than 7 days in a calendar year (as outlined above).

Note the scenarios below are only examples to help guide your understanding of when you need a blue card in these environments.

Education and care services

An education and care service is a service other than a school that provides regular education and care  to children under 13, such as outside school hours care (OSHC), family day care, day care and stand alone care.

A tradesperson will need a blue card when working within any of these services while children are present. For example a blue card is needed when:

• a glazier contractor cleans windows at the OSHC
• a tradesperson carries out work at kindergartens
• a catering company delivers food into a day care centre during business hours
• a tradesperson enters a school that runs an state-delivered kindergarten program to carry out maintenance

Learn more about blue card requirements for education and care services.

Schools

In most cases tradespeople who enter schools for work will not need a blue card as their work is for the school, not directed towards students. A blue card is needed when, for example, a contractor enters the school to provide VET or trade studies.

However, a tradesperson may require a blue card if the school has an education and care service—such as an OSHC or state-delivered kindergarten—operating on the school site. The OSHC or state-delivered kindergarten may operate within an identifiable boundary/premises within a school, or may operate across the entire school—you will need to contact the school to understand the boundaries and confirm if a blue card is required.

Learn more about blue card requirements for schools.

School-boarding facilities

Tradespeople whose usual work takes place inside a boarding facility at a school will need a blue card, regardless of the type of work being performed.

For example a blue card is needed when:

• an electrician provides electrical maintenance at a boarding school on a regular basis
• a cleaner is employed by a boarding school to clean the dormitories.

Learn more about blue card requirements for school-boarding facilities.

Residential facilities

Tradespeople whose usual work takes place inside a residential facility will need a blue card.

For example a blue card is needed when:

• an electrician provides electrical maintenance at a youth detention centre
• a cleaning contractor has a cleaning contract at an youth service crisis shelter.

Learn more about blue card requirements for residential facilities.