8.3.3.1. Who must hold a Working with Children Check (Blue Card)

Volunteers over the age of 18 years who work with children and young people must hold a Working with Children Check if their work falls into a category of regulated employment, regardless of how often they will come into contact with children and young people, unless an exemption applies.

A person can apply for a Working With Children Check three months prior to turning 18 years in preparation to begin/continue volunteering at the age of 18. Their blue card will be issued on their 18th birthday.

Due to Surf Lifesaving’s unique nature and large, varying scope of activities, SLSQ has recognised and accepted that parent members who are actively involved in working with and/or supervising children are not, or are very unlikely to be, involved in activities without their children from week to week. Therefore, parent members who are not involved in roles or functions listed in section 4.2 below are not required to complete the Working with Children Check requirements.

Individuals cannot rely on exemptions as a restricted person who are:

• Issued with a negative notice
• A suspended blue card
• A disqualified person
• Charged with a disqualifying offence that has not yet finalised, or
• Subject of an adverse interstate Working with Children Check decision in effect.

Positions held in SLS who must apply for a Working With Children check

The following is a list of positions in Surf Lifesaving where the people in those positions, if over 18 years of age, must complete the screening procedures and hold a positive notice blue card
• Committee Members
• Junior Activities Chairperson and Committee Members
• Team Managers / Assistant Team Managers
• Age Managers and Assistant Age Managers
• Cadet / Youth Officers
• Chief Training Officer and Training Officers
• Assessors
• Patrol Captains
• Patrol Members
• Coaches / Assistant Coaches
• Chaperones
• Officials
• Water Safety Personnel (including Nipper Adult Assistants)
• Photographers
• Peer Support Officers
• All People in Positions of Authority involved in a “live-in” situation or camp
• Caretakers (including Live-in)
• Grievance Officers/Complaint Officers/MPIOs
• Child Safety Officers
• All members who are participating in any surf life saving educational course (accredited or non-accredited). This includes awards for lifesaving, surf sports and membership/junior activities.
• All members applying for a credit transfer/RPL

SLSQ’s affiliated or recognised entities including Branches, Clubs and Supporters Clubs shall not add any further positions to this list without the prior written approval of SLSQ.

Who doesn’t need a Working with Children Check

Volunteers under 18 years of age are exempt from requiring a Working with Children Check unless they are a trainee student doing a practical placement as part of their studies with an education provider.