Blue cards for Parents and Citizens and Parent and Friends associations
Parents and Citizens (P&C) and Parent and Friends (P&F) Associations are volunteer organisations that support Queensland schools.
They help strengthen school communities and improve educational outcomes.
Do you need a blue card
Whether you need a blue card depends on the activities and services provided.
Executive committee members
You need a blue card if you are an executive committee member and you make decisions about children.
Executive committee members are usually the:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer.
These roles are defined in the association’s constitution.
The volunteer parent exemption does not apply.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- an executive committee member who makes decisions about children.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a member of a P&C or P&F that does not make decisions about children, such as a fundraising committee
- a non-executive committee member.
Which blue card category applies
The category depends on your role and the services your organisation provides.
Most executive committee members apply under the churches, clubs and associations.
If your P&C or P&F runs an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service, executive committee members responsible for that service must apply under the education and care services.
They must hold a blue card or exemption card before they start.
| Your role | Blue card category |
|---|---|
| Executive committee member of a P&C or P&F that does not operate an OSHC | Churches, clubs and associations involving children |
| Executive committee member of an association that operates an OSHC | Education and care services and similar business |
Members and volunteers
You may also need a blue card if you volunteer in a regulated services or activity that involves children.
Examples
You need a blue card if you volunteer in roles such as:
- working in tuck shop
- working in a uniform shop where children use a change room
- helping with a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day stall
- reading to students in class
- supervising children on a ride or jumping castle
- supervising children’s carnival or arcade games
- dressing as a children’s character
- face painting
- judging a children’s talent show or performance.
You do not need a blue card when:
- selling chocolates for a fundraiser
- applying for grants or funding
- attending a working bee
- attending a P&C or P&F annual meeting, unless you are an executive committee member
- attending a school event as a spectator
- volunteering at a fete or show when you are not supervising children in a regulated activity. This includes roles such as:
- traffic control
- selling food or drinks
- setting up or packing up equipment
- handing out flyers
- selling show bags or other retail items.
Volunteer parent exemption
If you volunteer in an activity that directly involves your own child, you usually do not need a blue card.
For example:
- assisting at sports day
- helping in the tuckshop or library
In most cases, the volunteer parent exemption applies.
Frequency
You may not need a blue card if you provide child-related services for 7 days or less in a calendar year.
Some exemptions apply.
More information
Learn more about: