Blue cards for tradespeople
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When tradespeople need a blue card
You may need a blue card if you work in places where children receive services, unless an exemption applies.
The examples below are a guide only. They do not cover every situation.
Education and care services
Education and care services (other than a school) provide education or care for children under 13. They include:
- outside school hours care (OSHC)
- family day care
- day care
- kindergartens.
You need a blue card if you work in these places while children are there.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a carpenter repairing a fence at a family day care service
- an electrician replacing power points inside a day care centre
- a painter repainting classrooms at a kindergarten
- a landscaper doing maintenance within the grounds of an OSHC
- a technician servicing air conditioning inside a childcare centre during business hours.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- an electrician fixing lights at a childcare service on a weekend when no children are there
- a painter repainting a kindergarten during a holiday shutdown when no children are there
- a roofer repairing a childcare centre outside operating hours when children are not there
- a plumber doing emergency repairs after hours when the service is closed.
Learn more about blue card requirements for education and care services.
Schools
Most tradespeople do not need a blue card to work at a school.
You do not need a blue card if:
- your work is not for children, and
- you only have incidental contact with children.
Some schools also have an education and care service, such as an OSHC or state-delivered kindergarten.
You may need a blue card if you work in these areas while children are present.
If you are not sure where you will work, ask the school before you start.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a tradesperson
- teaching vocational education or trade studies
- providing maintenance in an OSHC or state-delivered kindergarten while children are there
- a contractor providing IT support to students.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a tradesperson
- fixing an air conditioner at a school and do not work with children
- repairing a roof on a school building without entering the OSHC area
- a plumber fixing a broken drain on school grounds.
Learn more about blue card requirements for schools.
School boarding facilities
You need a blue card if your usual work takes place inside a school boarding facility.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- an electrician providing maintenance at a boarding school
- a cleaner cleaning school dormitories.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a roofer repairing the roof of a school classroom and not entering the boarding facility
- a contractor maintaining sporting grounds that are separate from the boarding facility.
Learn more about blue card requirements for school-boarding facilities.
Residential facilities
You need a blue card if your usual work takes place inside a residential facility.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a cleaner cleaning a youth service crisis shelter
- a painter repainting bedrooms at a youth crisis shelter
- a plumber repairing bathrooms in a residential care service for children.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a tradesperson delivering materials without entering the part of the residential facility used by children
- an electrician repairing an administration office that is separate from the residential facility.
Learn more about blue card requirements for residential facilities.
Justice and detention services
You need a blue card if your usual work takes place inside a justice and detention centre.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- an electrician providing maintenance at a youth detention centre
- a locksmith replacing cell door locks at a youth detention centre
- a contractor servicing security systems inside a youth detention centre.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a delivery driver dropping off supplies at a reception area without entering the centre
- a tradesperson repairing at a separate office building that is not part of the youth detention centre.
Learn more about blue card requirements for justice and detention services.
Working for 7 days or less
You do not need a blue card if you work in regulated environment for no more than 7 days in a calendar year.
This exemption does not apply if you are:
- a restricted person
- a business owner or operator.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a tradesperson working at a residential facility for 2 weeks
- a business owner doing regulated work at a boarding facility, because the 7-day exemption does not apply to business owners or operators.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a tradesperson doing maintenance at a youth detention centre for 3 days during the year
- a painter working at a school boarding facility for 5 days in a calendar year.
Business owners and operators
If you own or run a business and do regulated work, you have extra obligations:
You must:
- hold a blue card if one is required
- comply with your employer obligations