Working with Children Requirements (WWC) - SLSQ Administration Operations Manual

Description

To work or volunteer in regulated child-related employment or operate a regulated child-related business in Queensland, the Queensland Government requires certain persons to hold a blue card.

The blue card system’s goal is to help create conditions that are safe and encouraging for kids to receive services and engage in activities that are crucial to their growth and wellbeing.

You must have your blue card before you start work with children. This is called the “No Card – No Start Rule’.

After you have undergone the blue card check, you will generally either be issued a:

positive notice letter and a blue card if you do not have any police or disciplinary information which suggests that they are not eligible to work with children
negative notice if you have police or disciplinary information that suggests that you are not eligible to work with children. Negative notice holders are prohibited from working in regulated employment or carrying on a regulated business.

Exemptions

Registered teachers and sworn police officers may need to apply for an exemption card.

Further information
Exemption Forms

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a blue card, you must not have been convicted of a disqualifying offence.

The agency constantly monitors police information of all blue card holders and applicants and if a relevant change occurs that might affect your eligibility to work with children, then your application or status as a cardholder will be reassessed.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

You must immediately notify the agency and your employer if there is a change in your police information.

Duration

3 years

Transfer

Your blue card can be transferred across all areas of employment and business related to children. However, you cannot transfer a blue card to another person.

Disqualified persons or entities

A person is disqualified if they either:
have been convicted of a disqualifying offence (including a child-related sex or child-related pornography offence, or murder of a child)

are a reportable offender with current reporting obligations
are subject to a child protection offender prohibition order
are subject to a sexual offender order
are subject to a disqualification order from a court prohibiting them from applying for, or holding, a blue card.

A person issued with a negative notice is prohibited from working in the particular categories of employment / business for a period of two years. After expiration of two years, they may apply to have the negative notice cancelled. Employers also have an obligation to ensure that paid employees and volunteers with a negative notice or suspended blue card do not continue working in the regulated employment, and ensure they have appropriate risk management strategies in place to protect the safety and well-being of children and young people in their regulated service environment.

Further information: