What is a Blue Card?
The Blue Card system is the Queensland Government’s working with children check. Children have the right to be safe and protected from harm. The Blue Card system allows the Government to check and monitor individuals who encounter children. Whether that’s through activities such as childcare, education, sport, cultural activities and foster care. People without Blue Cards aren’t allowed to work or volunteer with children, except in very limited circumstances.
The Blue Card system consists of screening, ongoing monitoring and risk management.
- Screening establishes that a person is eligible to work with children based on their Police or disciplinary history
- Ongoing monitoring ensures that if information about a person with a Blue Card changes, for instance if they’re charged with a criminal offence, immediate action can be taken to protect the children from harm where required
- Risk management happens at an organisational level and means that organisations such as Anglicare Southern Queensland must develop and implement risk management strategies to ensure the safety of children in care.
Why do I need a Blue Card?
If you’re wanting to become a foster carer, you need a Blue Card. Under the Child Protection Act 1999, all approved foster carers need one. Any adult living in the same household as an approved carer, while they are providing care for a child, must also have a Blue Card. Other adults who have regular contact with children in care, for example a family friend who regularly picks them up from school, might also need to have a Blue Card. This is a measure to keep children in care safe.
You might wonder why you need a Blue Card if you already have a Police Check. A Police Check is only a record of disclosable convictions recorded ten years prior to the date it’s issued and does not continually monitor for new information. A Police Check doesn’t consider disciplinary or other information that may be relevant to whether a Blue Card application is successful.
If you work in a role with an exemption, for example as a health practitioner or ambulance service officer, you don’t need a Blue Card for work, but you will still need a Blue Card if you’re applying to be a foster carer. This is because foster care is unrelated to your work.
Blue Card laws changed in August 2020. What’s new?
The most important change is the “No Card, No Start” law. This means that you cannot work or volunteer in a position requiring a Blue Card until your application is approved. Furthermore, you’ll need to be approved for a Blue Card before you start caring for children and young people. Any adult household member also needs to be approved before you start fostering. When someone new moves into your home they’ll need their Blue Card approved before moving in with young people you’re fostering.
If your Blue Card is due to expire, you’ll need to renew it before the expiry date. If you don’t, you won’t be able to continue to foster until the renewal has been approved.
The new laws also mean that you’re obligated to notify the government immediately if there is a change to your police information.
You can find more information about the changes to Blue Card laws on the Queensland Government website.
Can I get help with my Blue Card application?
We know it can be complicated, and you might still have questions. So, if you’re applying for a Blue Card, to become a carer, we can help. Reach out to Anglicare Southern Queensland by calling us on 1300 000 828.
You can also find more information on the Blue Card system on the Queensland Government website.