Blue card support for Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander communities
In the spirit of reconciliation, Blue Card Services acknowledges Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional owners and Custodians of Country. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to their Elders past, present and emerging.
On this page you will find information to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland to access Blue Card Services.
Our communities
Our dedicated team of professionals—including identified liaison officers—are here to help Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples with all things blue card related.
Our team regularly visits remote, regional and other communities in Queensland to give one-on-one support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants and community organisations.
Community visits
When we visit communities we sometimes travel with the Indigenous Driver Licensing Unit (IDLU). This means we can help fix any identification issues before you apply for a blue card.
Our team has formed strong working partnerships with community leaders, organisations, councils, community justice groups and others to:
- provide advice and education
- build capacity and improve service delivery
- increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations engaging with the blue card system.
Before we visit a community, we:
- get permission to enter
- contact community members and organisations about when we will be visiting
- tell relevant stakeholders what we are doing
- update our event page with our upcoming community visits.
While in community we:
- yarn face-to-face with applicants to take submissions
- help to complete your blue card applications
- meet with community organisations to provide education and support
- engage with community Elders, community justice groups and local councils
Why we visit
When we work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, applicants can take part in the blue card application or submission process in person.
Meeting with our team has resulted in more blue cards being issued, because yarning together can help us understand your story if you have a criminal history or other assessable information. When we hear your story, it helps us make an informed decision about whether you should get a blue card. This means a better outcome for you and your community.
If you need help with the application or submission process, come yarn with us when we visit community.
List of remote communities we service
- Bamaga
- Boigu Island
- Cherbourg
- Coen
- Doomadgee
- Erub (Darnley Island)
- Hope Vale
- Iama (Yam Island)
- Injinoo
- Kowanyama
- Lockhart River
- Mornington Island including Gununa
- Masig Island (Yorke Island)
- Mabuiag Island
- Mapoon
- Mer Island
- Moa Island
- Mossman
- Murgon
- Napranum
- New Mapoon
- Normanton
- Palm Island
- Pormpuraaw
- Saibai Island
- Thursday Island
- Umagico
- Warraber Island
- Weipa
- Wellesley Islands
- Woorabinda
- Wujal
- Yarrabah
When do you need a blue card
If you’ve been in trouble with the police, it doesn’t always mean you can’t get a blue card. If you aren’t sure, you can phone and ask us—we are here to help..
Not everyone needs a blue card to be in an environment where a child is present, but blue cards are needed for certain areas that are important in children's lives.
Common places you'll need a blue card to work or volunteer at include:
- Education, entertainment and recreation providers, such as childcare centres, footy or sporting clubs, PCYCs or schools
- health or home care providers, such as child accommodation, foster carers, safe houses, women’s shelters, and wellbeing or health centres
- other community services that regularly host children, such as some art centres, community justice groups, churches or places of worship, local councils, men’s sheds, some ranger programs, or women’s yarning circles.
Read more about when you need a blue card.
When you apply for a blue card
When you apply for a blue card, we complete a national criminal history check and get other assessable information. We call this the blue card check.
After the blue card check:
- if no police information or other assessable information is found, your application will be approved, and you will get a blue card.
- if we do find police information or other assessable information, we will do a risk assessment may need to contact you to find out more - this is how we hear your side of the story.
Telling us your story
You can tell us your side of the story in writing, over the phone, face-to-face, or through someone you trust like a community Elder, community justice group or someone you work with.
Your story can include things like:
- whether you agree with the information about you
- a description of your personal life at the time
- any positive changes you‘ve made in your life
- courses or programs you have completed (e.g. wellbeing courses—include the organisation the course was through, dates attended and when you finished the course)
- previous experiences or interactions with children
- your connections to or involvement with your community (e.g. involvement in men’s or women’s groups, church and family support)
- anything else you want us to know (e.g. references).
We may call you or send you a text message if we need to talk to you about your side of the story.
It’s important that we speak to you to get your side of the story so we can make a decision.
First Nations engagement team
If we are doing a risk assessment, our First Nations engagement officers will help our decision makers understand the cultural context to your police and other assessable information. This includes:
- systemic disadvantage and intergenerational trauma
- historical context and limitations on access to justice
- other cultural reasons that may have led to your behaviour.
More information
- Find blue card resources for First Nations communities.
- Understand when you need a blue card
- learn how to apply for a blue card
- who is eligible to apply for a blue card
- Safe children and strong communities strategy and action plan.