Suspended and cancelled cards
Your blue card or exemption card may be suspended if we receive information that affects your eligibility to work with children.
A suspension is temporary. It allows us to reassess your eligibility.
A cancellation ends your blue card or exemption card.
Blue card applicants and card holders must tell us about certain changes. This includes changes to their police information.
We also receive information from other agencies that affect a person's eligibility to work with children.
This page explains:
- when a card may be suspended or cancelled
- what happens when a card is suspended or cancelled
- how to apply to end a suspension.
These rules apply under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 (the Act).
When is a card suspended?
Your card will be suspended if:
- you have been charged with a serious or disqualifying offence
- your Queensland College of Teachers registration is suspended
- your interstate working with children clearance is suspended, or an interim bar is imposed
- we receive information that indicates you may pose a risk to the safety of children while we reassess your eligibility.
What happens if your card is suspended?
If your card is suspended:
- you must return your blue card immediately
- you become a restricted person
- you must stop regulated child-related work immediately
- we will tell you and your linked organisations.
Serious penalties apply if you continue in regulated child-related work.
Applying to end a suspension
You can apply to end your suspension after 6 months.
We may continue the suspension if:
- you have an outstanding criminal offence
- an appeal about a conviction or sentence has not been finalised
- your Queensland College of Teachers registration is still suspended
- your interstate working with children clearance is still suspended
- you are still subject to an interstate interim bar.
If you apply to end a suspension, we will complete a risk assessment.
If the suspension is ended
If we end the suspension:
- your card will be returned to you if it has not expired
- you will no longer be a restricted person.
If we decide that you pose a risk
If we decide that you pose a risk to the safety of children:
- your card will be cancelled
- you will get a negative notice.
We will tell you and your linked organisations if your blue card or exemption card is continued or cancelled.
Apply to end a suspension
Download the application to end a suspension form.
When a card is cancelled
Your blue card or exemption card will be cancelled if you receive a negative notice.
Your card may also be cancelled without a negative notice if:
- you become prohibited from holding a working with children check in another state or territory
- we cannot be satisfied that you received a request to take part in a risk assessment
- you ask us to cancel your card.
What happens if your card is cancelled?
If your card is cancelled:
- you must return your card immediately
- you and your linked organisations will be notified.
Review or appeal a decision
You may be able to ask for a review of certain decisions, including decisions about:
- suspensions
- cancellations
- negative notices.
Support resources
You may find these resources helpful:
- Application to end a suspension
- QCAT appeal process: Your right to review fact sheet
- Fact sheet: How to make a submission
- Journey map: Negative notice
- Fact sheet: National Reference System
- Journey map: Negative interstate working with children decision
More information
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