The Blue Card System

QLD’s Working with Children Check

All children in Queensland have a right to be safe and protected from harm. The blue card system regulates activities which are essential to children’s lives. These include child care, education, sport, cultural activities and foster care. We check and monitor people who work in these industries and help organisations to create safe environments for children.

The blue card system is made up of 3 parts: screening, ongoing monitoring and risk management strategies. Read More 

Changes to the Blue Card system (August 2020)

Following a review of the Blue Card System several changes were put in place.

The changes include:

Sign up to Blue Card News to stay up to date about these changes.

Resources

Have a look at the range of resources available for child and youth risk management strategy. All resources can be found on the Blue Card Services website.

Check out the videos outlining recent changes and the online suite of online videos (YouTube), including resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to assist completing the blue card application process.

Child and youth risk management strategies and resources

Organisations and people who run businesses regulated by the blue card system must have a child and youth risk management strategy. This strategy needs to address the following 8 mandatory requirements and will help to create a safe and supportive environment for children.

  1. Statement of commitment
  2. Code of conduct
  3. Policies for recruiting, selecting, training and managing employees and volunteers
  4. Procedures for handling disclosures and suspicions of harm
  5. Plan for managing breaches of your strategy
  6. Policies and procedures for compliance with the blue card system
  7. Risk management plan for high-risk activities and special events
  8. Communication and support

For further information,  please call Blue Card Services on 1800 113 611 or 07 3211 6999 or visit the website at www.bluecard.qld.gov.au.

See also ...

New laws targeting sexual offences against children

There are new criminal law offences commencing July 2021 in Queensland to increase protection of children from the risk of sexual abuse. The new offences target behaviour that ignores or hides the sexual abuse of children. Everyone involved in sport, active and outdoor recreation has a role to play in keeping children safe from harm.

Failure to report

  • All adults in the community that reasonably believe (or should reasonably believe) that a child is being or has been the victim of sexual abuse must report it to the police – unless they have a reasonable excuse.
  • The maximum penalty for failing to report belief of a child sexual offence is 3 years’ imprisonment.

Failure to protect

  • Adults in an institutional setting (including sport and recreation clubs) must protect children from the risk of a sexual offence being committed against them.
  • Specifically, an adult in a position of power or responsibility within an institution that has children in its care, supervision and control will be required to reduce or remove a known risk of sexual offending against a child by an adult associated with an institution.
  • How an adult can remove or reduce risk will depend on the situation. Adults should not have to adopt unnecessarily expensive or risk-averse behaviour.
  • The maximum penalty for failing to protect a child from a sexual offence is 5 years’ imprisonment.

As activity providers, it is important that you understand your obligations and take the necessary steps to protect children at your institution.

For more information, go to www.qld.gov.au/protectchildren, and you may also wish to seek legal advice if you are unsure about reporting obligations.

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