Changes to the blue card system

Changes are coming to the blue card system to strengthen safeguards for children in Queensland. These changes are being introduced through a phased approach which began on 1 July 2025.

These changes include:

• new types of child-related work or services will require a blue card
• new and standardised exemptions
• new self-disclosure laws for applicants and card holders to tell us about any disclosable matters, such as child protection and domestic and family violence orders
• a simpler decision-making framework for issuing blue cards
• the ability to consult experts with specialist knowledge, skills or experience to help make a blue card decision
• a simpler disqualification framework
• broader abilities to immediately suspend a person’s blue card where they pose a risk to the safety of children
• stronger compliance responses to ensure organisations and individuals meet their obligations.

Compliance and oversight

On 1 July 2025, new laws began that impact compliance and monitoring of the organisations and individuals regulated by the blue card system.

Blue Card Services has additional compliance and enforcement powers to ensure organisations and individuals comply with the blue card system.

All business owners and individuals regulated by the blue card system must provide Blue Card Services with written information if requested for monitoring and compliance.

The requirement for organisations regulated by the blue card system to keep a detailed employee register, and the details that must be recorded, are clearly stipulated in the Working With Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000.

Learn more about our compliance and enforcement.

Who needs a blue card?

The changes introduce new categories of regulated employment and businesses, as well as amending existing categories to screen people performing child related work. Be mindful that not all changes come into effect on the same date.

New exemptions

Interstate and overseas emergency services exemption

Since 1 July 2025, interstate and overseas emergency services workers do not need a blue card to provide temporary emergency response services during a declared disaster or significant fire event in Queensland.

This exemption allows for the rapid deployment of additional emergency services workers when they are needed most.

Read about this overseas emergency service exemption.

Volunteer parent exemption

From 20 September 2025, parents volunteering for an activity their child participates in generally will not need a blue card.

This exemption will be standardised across all child-related employment activities. It allows parents to continue to participate in activities with their children.

It will not apply to parents volunteering for activities not involving their own child; overnight excursions or camps; if their volunteering includes close personal contact with another child; or if the parent is a restricted person.

If you are a parent and have been relying on the volunteer parent exemption for any activities not covered by the new exemption rules, you must obtain a blue card that is linked to your organisation by 20 September 2025. If you do not, you will need to stop immediately and cannot resume until you do.

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New regulated work

Justice and detention services

Since 1 July 2025, if you work in a youth detention centre, supervise or monitor children under court orders under the Youth Justice Act 1992, or operate a business providing services in this industry, you must hold a blue card.

Visit Blue cards for justice and detention services for more information.

Education services and activities conducted inside a school

From 20 September 2025, you will need a blue card if you own or operate a business whose business activities include carrying out work within a school.

If you are already providing services in a school, you have six months, from 20 September 2025 to 20 March 2026, to apply for a blue card.

Anyone commencing child-related work on or after 20 September 2025 must hold a blue card before they can start.

Visit Blue cards for educational services and activities conducted inside a school for more information.

Entertainment, beauty and photography

From 20 September 2025, you will need a blue card if you provide entertainment or party services, operating a beauty or talent program, or provide photography services mainly for children, or you own or operate a business that provides these services.

If you are already working or operating in business in the areas of child entertainment, beauty, or photography, you have six months, from 20 September 2025 to 20 March 2026, to apply for a blue card.

Anyone commencing child-related work on or after 20 September 2025 must hold a blue card before they can start.

Visit Blue cards for entertainment, beauty and photography services for more information.

Amusement parks

From 20 September 2025, amusement parks are no longer exempt under the sport and active recreation – gyms and play facilities category.

If you are an employee or volunteer providing services or conducting activities for children within an amusement park you may need a blue card, depending on your role. For example, if you are a ride operator whose activities are directed towards children within the park, you will need a blue card.

If you are a business owner or operator who runs an amusement park you will need a blue card.

If you are already working at an amusement park or operating an amusement park business, you have 12 months, from 20 September 2025 to 20 September 2026, to apply for a blue card.

Anyone commencing work at an amusement park or operating an amusement park business on or after 20 September 2025 must hold a blue card before they can start.

Visit Blue cards for amusement parks and arcades for more information.

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Changes to existing categories

Child accommodation services

From 20 September 2025 you need a blue card if you own or operate a child accommodation service, or you work or volunteer to provide services to children in a child accommodation service.

Child accommodation services include:

• homestay providers
• exchange programs, e.g. international student exchange
• overnight camps or excursions, e.g. school camps
• youth shelters

If you are currently working for an overnight camp facility you have six months, from 20 September to 20 March 2026, to apply for a blue card.

Anyone commencing child-related work on or after 20 September 2025 must hold a blue card before they can start.

Visit blue cards for overnight camps for more information.

Sport and active recreation, gyms and play facilities

From 20 September 2025, you will need a blue card if you work in or own or operate a business that provides services or activities for children as part of a sport, active recreation, gym or play facility.

If you are currently working in a gym or play facility, you have six months, from 20 September 2025 to 20 March 2026, to apply for a blue card.

Anyone commencing child-related work on or after 20 September 2025 must hold a blue card before they can start.

Schools - employees other than teachers

From 20 September 2025, you will need a blue card if you carry out work within a school area accessible to children during operational hours, including administration staff, cleaners and groundskeepers.

If your work is not directed towards children and the nature of your work does not facilitate more than incidental contact, you will not need a blue card. For example, tradespeople.

Anyone commencing child-related work on or after 20 September 2025 must hold a blue card before they can start.

Churches, clubs and associations

From 20 September 2025, you will need a blue card if you provide services or conduct activities for children, or make decisions about children as part of an executive committee of a church, club or association.

Anyone who holds a position on a committee within a church, club or association involving child-related activities and does not already hold a blue card must stand down on 20 September 2025 and cannot resume until they hold a blue card.

Care of children under the Child Protection Act 1999

The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety is working on a new system to check kinship carers and the adults living with them. Once this system is in place, kinship carers and the adults in their homes won’t need a blue card to look after children they are related to. There’s no set date for when this will start, but more updates will be shared as the work continues.

Transitional arrangements

Each category change has different time frames to comply with these new laws. These transitional provisions only apply for employees and businesses owners that are already working in the industry prior to 20 September 2025. If you commence work in one of these industries on or after 20 September 2025, you must obtain a blue card before you start work.

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