Blue card (Australia)

Blue Card Services administers the blue card system—Queensland’s Working with Children Check.

The blue card system is used in Queensland, Australia as a prevention and monitoring system for people working with children and young people. Other states in Australia have a similar working with children check, but are not called a "blue card".

All children in Queensland have a right to be safe and protected from harm. The blue card system regulates activities that are essential to children’s lives. These include childcare, 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 regulated by 2 pieces of legislation: the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the act) and the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Regulation 2020.

The blue card system has been subject to ongoing scrutiny and review since its inception.

Community legal organisations have raised concerns about processing delays in the blue card system. According to LawRight's 2024 submission to the Queensland Parliament, applicants who receive a negative notice and seek review at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) face a minimum process length of approximately two years. LawRight's client data indicated an average of 350 days from application to the issuing of a negative notice where adverse information exists about an applicant.

Statistics on QCAT review outcomes have been cited in parliamentary inquiries. LawRight's 2024 data showed that 63 per cent of Blue Card matters finalised at QCAT were either set aside by the Tribunal or reconsidered by Blue Card Services during the QCAT process. Historical data from the Queensland Family and Child Commission indicated that in 2011-12, approximately 25 per cent of negative notices were overturned on review by QCAT.

The Queensland Human Rights Commission has identified concerns regarding overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in blue card negative notices. According to the Commission's submission to Parliament, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accounted for approximately five per cent of total blue card applicants but represented 22 per cent of those issued negative notices.