On 31 August 2020, the Queensland Government will make changes to the blue card system - to make it better. Better for you, better for our children. These changes strengthen and streamline the blue card system under the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000.
A key change will be the introduction of the No Card, No Start laws – which will mean you must have a valid blue card before you can work with children. The new laws also include stricter requirements for people who rely on an exemption to work or volunteer with children through the introduction of the terms, restricted person and restricted employment and associated offences.
We also want to support jobseekers in our industry, so please be aware that No Card, No Start means that paid workers must have a blue card - no longer a pending application - before they can work with children. (However, if you have a paid application submitted before the new laws start, you can continue working while your application is assessed).
There is no change for volunteers, trainee students and people running regulated child-related businesses—you have always needed a blue card before you could start working or volunteering with children. If you hold a volunteer blue card and move into paid regulated child-related work, your card must be transferred to a paid card. You can start in paid work as soon as you have submitted the transfer form.
If you have a blue card, and you don't renew it by the time it expires, you will be subject to the No Card, No Start law and cannot work.
If you are a jobseeker, you can also apply for a paid blue card to be job-ready.
There will be some changes to the application process:
quicker identity confirmation from a partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads
a fully online application submission process that will speed up turnaround times.
Verifying your identity - You will need a customer reference number (CRN) and photo from TMR before you apply for your blue card. This means organisations will no longer need to sight and verify your identification documents on your blue/exemption card application. For many, this will be the number and photo on your driver licence, photo identity card or marine licence. More than 4.5 million people already have a CRN. If you don’t, you should get one!
You will be able to apply for a blue card before you get a job, so you can be job-ready. If you are looking for a job in the childcare industry, we strongly recommend that you do this, as candidates who have a blue card and can start work immediately, will be at an advantage.
For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/bluecardchanges