Blue cards for registered health practitioners
A registered health practitioner is a person registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
This does not include students.
When you do not need a blue card
If you are registered with AHPRA, you do not need a blue card when you:
- work in your professional role as a registered health practitioner
- run a business as a registered health practitioner
- study a degree that relates to your current AHPRA registration.
When you do need a blue card
You may need a blue card if you work with children outside your usual work as a registered health practitioner.
You need a blue card if you are:
- a registered physiotherapist who coaches a children's sports team
- an occupational therapist who charges for children's piano lessons
- a school nurse who also looks after children before school, during lunch breaks or after school
- a doctor who provides homestay accommodation to students under 18
- a midwife who volunteers for a children’s helpline.
These activities may be covered by different blue card categories. They include:
- churches, clubs and associations involving children
- private teaching, coaching or tutoring
- schools—employees other than teachers
- child accommodation services
- health, counselling and support services.
Studying a different qualification
You will need a blue card if you are doing a child-related placement or other regulated work as a part of course that is outside your AHPRA registration.
You need a blue card if you are:
- a registered physiotherapist studying childcare and doing activities at a childcare centre
- a registered midwife studying teaching and doing a placement at a school
- an osteopath studying psychology and doing a placement that involves children.
When you apply for a blue card for this type of placement, you list your university, TAFE or private college as the employer.