How the blue card system keeps children safe

Children need adults to protect them from harm and help them feel safe. Harm can include things like accidents, bullying, exposure to physical hazards, neglect, or abuse—emotional, physical, or sexual.

Parents and carers play an important role in making sure organisations that work with children are safe. You should feel comfortable asking individuals or organisations about their policies and procedures to protect children.

This information explains:

How the blue card system helps keep children safe.
How to choose child-safe organisations.
How to make a complaint about a service or cardholder.
Where to find more information and resources.

Checking if an organisation is child-safe

Organisations and individuals regulated by the blue card system must have a child and youth risk management strategy. This strategy includes 8 mandatory requirements that align with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

The Queensland Family & Child Commission provides resources to help organisations meet these requirements and create safe environments for children. You can also download a checklist to use when visiting an organisation to decide if it is right for your child.

Making a complaint

If you have concerns about an organisation, it is important to know who to contact:

If it is a criminal offence or a child is at risk of harm, call the police on 131 444 immediately.
If it is about a blue card issue, contact Blue Card Services.

Blue Card Services has a compliance team that checks if organisations and individuals are following the rules. They also act on complaints from the public. If there are serious issues, they work with the police and other agencies to protect children.

You can report concerns to us if:

An organisation does not have a child-safe culture.
A blue or exemption cardholder behaves inappropriately.
Someone working with children does not have a blue or exemption card.
A restricted person is working or volunteering with children.

What to do if you are concerned

Imagine this scenario:

You pick up your child from childcare and later notice a bite mark on their arm that broke the skin. The next day, you ask a staff member about it, but they do not know anything and cannot find an incident report. They dismiss your concerns. Later, you ask another staff member, who promises the manager will call you, but a week goes by, and you hear nothing. You also notice children playing in an area without staff supervision. You are worried the centre is not adequately staffed, which could put children at risk.

Here is what you can do:

Ask for the centre’s staff-to-children ratio policy.
Request a copy of the incident report. If they do not respond, email the manager, and ask for a meeting.
Contact the governing body for childcare services to make a complaint.

If you believe the organisation does not have a child-safe culture, you can also report this to us.

Reporting to the governing or peak body

Depending on the service environment, you should contact the relevant governing or peak body listed below.

Department of Child Safety for foster and kinship care issues.
Department of Education if the matter relates to a Queensland state school.
Early Childhood Education and Care (state level) or Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (national level) for education and care facilities, such as outside school hours care, early learning or childcare centres.
National Council of Churches in Australia for religious groups, including churches.
Non-State Schools Accreditation Board for non-state schools. Each school will have a different governing body.
Queensland Health for health concerns.
State level sport and active recreation organisations (state level) or Australian sport directory (national level) for other service environments, such as sporting clubs and associations.

Other resources

The following government and non-government organisations also provide resources to help parents and carers communicate with your child or young person:

More information

Below are quick links to help you better understand the blue card system, including:

Understand linking requirements for organisations
Check when you don’t need a blue card
Check who cannot apply for or hold a blue card
Learn how to apply for a blue or exemption card .

Last updated:: 22 July 2025