Interstate working with children checks

Blue cards are issued under Queensland legislation to promote and protect the rights, interests, and wellbeing of children. This is achieved through screening people working in regulated employment or business and requiring organisations to develop and implement a child and youth risk management strategy.

This means we have different rules and requirements for working with children than the other states.

Using another state or territory's check in Queensland

We do not recognise working with children checks conducted outside of Queensland. If you hold an interstate working with children clearance and are seeking to work or volunteer with children in Queensland, you may need to apply for a blue card.

Whether you need a blue card will depend on the environment where the work is performed, the type of work, and if an exemption applies.

Organisations that receive state or federal funding may have agreements that require them to comply with working with children legislation. While it is important to check the requirements, it does not automatically mean that everyone in that organisation needs a blue card.

Exemption for interstate and overseas emergency services workers

Interstate or overseas emergency services workers travelling to Queensland to perform emergency services during a declared disaster or significant fire event do not need a blue card.

A disaster situation is a disaster declared under the Disaster Management Act 2003 and a significant fire event is a fire event declared under the Fire Services Act 1990.

For example, a blue card is not needed for:

a Canadian firefighter deployed to Queensland during a significant fire event
a Victorian SES volunteer deployed to Queensland during a declared flood disaster.

Adverse interstate Working with Children Check

If you have previously applied for a blue card equivalent in another state or territory and have had the application denied, you are a restricted person, and unable to apply for a blue card or rely on an exemption to work with children until the decision is overturned.

Using blue in other states or territories

Working with children checks are managed by states or territories according to their local legislation. Each state or territory has their own information about screening requirements and how to contact them:

Last updated:: 4 July 2025