Offences and penalties for individuals under the blue card system
This page outlines offences and penalties that may apply if you do not follow the requirements of the blue card system.
This page is for individuals—if you are an organisation, learn about penalties for organisations.
From 1 July 2025, 1 penalty unit is $166.90.
Starting or continuing in regulated employment
You must not start or continue in regulated employment unless you have a current blue card. This does not apply if you are a police officer or registered teacher and have an exemption card application in progress.
Maximum penalty: $83,450.00 (500 penalty units) or 5 years imprisonment
If you have a current blue card and are employed as a volunteer, you must notify us if you start in paid regulated employment..
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
Running a business
You must not carry on a regulated business without a valid blue card, unless you are a police officer or registered teacher and you have an exemption card application in progress.
Maximum penalty: $83,450.00 (500 penalty units) or 5 years imprisonment
If you operate a corporation that is carrying on a regulated business, each executive officer of the corporation who primarily resides in Australia must have a current blue card or an exemption card application in progress.
Maximum penalty: $83,450.00 (500 penalty units) or 5 years imprisonment
If you carry on a regulated business, you must develop a child and youth risk management strategy and review your child-safe policies and procedures each year.
Maximum penalty: $3,338.00 (20 penalty units)
If you carry on a regulated business, you must keep an employee register of all employees engaged in regulated employment, including those relying on an exemption. You may use our employee register template to record your employees’ information.
Maximum penalty: $8,345.00 (50 penalty units)
If you have a current blue card and are employed as a volunteer, you must notify us if you start a regulated business.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units
Changing employment, name or contact details
If you have applied for a blue or exemption card and your name or contact details change before your application is decided, you must notify us within 7 days of the change.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
If you hold a current blue or exemption card, you must notify us within 7 days after the relevant change if you either:
- change a name previously provided
- start to use a different name(s) to those previously provided
- change your business information (e.g. you start or stop carrying on a child-related business)
- have a disclosable matter not previously declared
- change contact details previously provided.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
If you have applied to have your negative notice cancelled, you must notify us within 7 days after the relevant change if you either:
- change a name previously provided
- start to use a different name(s) to those previously provided
- have a disclosable matter not previously declared
- change contact details previously provided.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
If a replacement blue or exemption card is issued after you change your details, you must return the replaced card to us within 7 days.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
If your current blue or exemption card has been lost or stolen, you must notify us within 14 days and either apply for a replacement card or ask us to cancel it.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
If you get your lost or stolen blue or exemption card back after applying for a replacement, you must return the replaced (i.e. the original) card to us within 14 days.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
If your blue or exemption card, is cancelled and a negative notice is issued, you must immediately return your card to us.
Maximum penalty: $16,690.00(100 penalty units)
If your blue or exemption card is suspended, you must immediately return your card to us .
Maximum penalty: $16,690.00 (100 penalty units)
Penalties about a change in police information
If you have a current blue or exemption card, or an application in progress, you must immediately notify us of any change in your police information whether or not you are currently working with children using the approved form.
Maximum penalty: $16,690.00 (100 penalty units)
If you have a current blue or exemption card, you must notify us of any change to a disclosable matter within 7 days.
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)
Serious or disqualifying offences
If you are convicted of a serious offence, you must immediately return your blue or exemption card and stop regulated work until a further blue or exemption card is issued.
This means that in the meantime you must not start, or continue in regulated employment or carry on a regulated business.
Maximum penalty: $83,450.00 (500 penalty units) or 5 years' imprisonment
If, after applying for a blue or exemption card blue card, you are charged with a disqualifying offence, you must not start, or continue in regulated employment or carry on a regulated business.
Maximum penalty: $83,450.00 (500 penalty units) or 5 years' imprisonment
If your blue or exemption card has been suspended, you must not start or continue in regulated employment or carry on a regulated business.
Restricted person and restricted employment
If you are a restricted person, you must not start or continue in restricted employment if you are a restricted person.
Maximum penalty: $83,450.00 (500 penalty units) or 5 years in prison.
Monitoring compliance
You must not make false or misleading statements to us.
Maximum penalty: $16,690.00 (100 penalty units)
You must not give us a document known to be false or misleading.
Maximum penalty: $16,690.00 (100 penalty units)
You must provide Blue Card Services information if formally requested for auditing or monitoring compliance.
Maximum penalty: $8,345.00 (50 penalty units)
Maximum penalty: $1,669.00 (10 penalty units)