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Running a child-related business

To run a business regulated by the blue card system you need a blue or exemption card.

Not everybody who runs a business needs a blue or exemption card. However, if your work—or the work your business does—falls within a category of regulated business, you must hold a blue or exemption card before you start.

Business 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 needs a blue or exemption card.

Categories of regulated business

The categories of regulated business under the Act are:

This list does not include all situations where you may need a blue or exemption card. If your business does not fit one category, it may fit another.

You will need a blue or exemption card if you are an executive officer of a corporation that operates a business regulated by one of the categories on this page. This includes an executive officer who lives outside Queensland, but does not include an executive officer who lives outside Australia.

If you are unsure whether you need a card, please contact us.

Child accommodation services, including homestays

You will need a blue card if:

  • the usual activities of your business include providing a child accommodation service in your home, including a homestay service
  • you run a business that employs volunteers to provide child accommodation
  • you run a homestay service for students.

Under this category you do not need a blue card if the activities happen at a boarding school or residential facility, or another place where a child accommodation service is provided under funding by the Australian Government or the Queensland Department of Education.

Childcare services

You will need a blue card if:

  • the usual activities of your business include providing childcare on a commercial basis, for example babysitters, au pairs or nannies, a gym that operates a creche or child-minding service, or a hotel kid’s club
  • carrying out activities in a place or vehicle where childcare is being provided, for example a cleaner contracted to clean the hotel kid’s club facilities.

Disability work

You will need a blue card if your business provides disability services or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports or services to a child with disability.

Education and care services

You will need a blue card if:

  • the usual activities of your business include operating an education and care premises, or another service that provides education and care service to children, for example operating a family day care scheme, childcare centre, kindergarten, outside school hours care service, or vacation holiday program for children and young people
  • the usual activities of your business include carrying out activities in a place where children are being educated and cared for, for example driving a bus operated by a childcare centre or a tradesperson regularly entering a childcare premises in an outside hours school care service during the hours of operation.

Under this category you don’t need a blue card if the activities are conducted outside the operation hours of the education and care service when children are not present.

Educational programs conducted outside of school

Limited people need a blue card under this category. If you are unsure whether this applies to you, check with your employer or contact us.

You will need a blue card if your business includes—or is likely to include—providing services under sections 182, 183, 286 (2), 291 or 304 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006. This includes business operators that provide educational programs for students who can’t attend regular school, for example suspended or excluded students, or students who have special schooling arrangements.

Under this category you don’t need a blue card if the business you operate is a:

  • state school
  • non-state school
  • registered higher education provider
  • registered training organisation.

Health, counselling and support services

You will need a blue card if:

  • your business provides a health service that requires physical contact with a child, or that is provided while nobody else is physically present, for example a mental health youth program
  • your business provides a counselling service or support service if you are physically present with a child while nobody else is physically present, or if you are not physically present with a child, for example online counseling for children or young people.

Under this category you don't need a blue card if the business you operate is a licensed care service. A licensed care service provides care for children who are under the care of Child Safety.

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Hostels for children (other than a residential facility)

Limited people need a blue card under this category. Contact us if you are unsure whether this applies to you.

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include operating a service where a child accommodation service is provided under funding by the Australian Government or the Queensland Department of Education. For example, a person who provides accommodation for school-age students while they attend school, when that accommodation is not a boarding school or residential facility.

Licensed care services under the Child Protection Act 1999

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include, or are likely to include:

carrying out activities or providing services inside a licensed residential facility—a place where the children reside—for example contractors regularly operating inside a licensed care facility

A risk-assessed role is defined in section 123A of the Child Protection Act 1999. Read more about what a risk-assessed role is in table 2 of the Suitability and screening requirements for child safety licensed care services guide or download licensing resources.

Non-state schools—directors of governing bodies and authorised persons

You will need a blue card if you are:

  • a director of a non-state school or part of the governing body of an accredited non-state school
  • an authorised person under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017.

Private teaching, coaching or tutoring

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include teaching, coaching or tutoring children on a commercial basis. For example:

  • a self-employed driving instructor who offers lessons to children
  • a self-employed personal trainer who coaches children
  • a person who runs their own business privately tutoring children.

Under this category, you don't need a blue or exemption card if you are conducting private teaching, coaching or tutoring through an education provider, including a registered training organisation.

Religious representatives

You will need a blue card if you are a religious representative and the usual activities of your business include providing services to or conducting activities with children. For example, if you are:

  • a religious leader such as a priest, chaplain, imam, minister or rabbi whose role includes—or may include—providing religious instruction to children or conducting activities as a religious representative
  • in charge of your religious organisation and the organisation runs children’s activities, for example if you are a youth leader who runs children’s worship groups and Sunday school activities
  • an operator of a business promoting spiritual beliefs and guidance to children, even if you don’t consider yourself to be part of an organised religion.

Sport and active recreation

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include running sport or active recreation activities for children. Example activities include:

  • recreational camps
  • themed birthday parties, for example hosts or operators of paintball, rock climbing, soccer or skating
  • jumping castles or other rides, for example supervisors or attendants who assist children
  • casual indoor netball, squash or cricket centres
  • children’s discos
  • indoor play centres, for example trampoline or laser tag
  • young children motor skills groups
  • re-enactment groups, for example medieval sword fighting practice
  • children’s fitness programs
  • independent industry providers, for example karate, martial arts or horse riding.

Under this category you don't need a blue card if the activities are conducted by a church, club or association, or if the business is an amusement park.

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Last updated:
4 February 2022
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