Blue cards for volunteers
Whether you need a blue card as a volunteer depends on:
- the type of work you do
- where you do the work
- whether an exemption applies.
For the blue card system, volunteers are treated as employees of the organisation they volunteer for.
There is no fee to apply for a volunteer blue card.
You must be linked to the organisation before you apply. This helps show that you are a genuine volunteer.
When volunteers may not need a blue card
You may not need a blue card if one of these exemptions applies:
- you are under 18
- you are a parent volunteering, unless you attend an overnight camp or have close personal contact with a child
- you volunteer for 7 days or less, unless you attend an overnight camp or have close personal contact with a child
- you provide help or guidance to a child employee, such as during work experience
- you work in disability work and are employed and receive disability services.
These exemptions do not apply if you are a restricted person.
When volunteers may need a blue card
You may need a blue card if you volunteer at a:
- Sporting club: coaching, refereeing, training or supervising children’s sports. This comes under the churches, clubs and associations category.
- Church or other religious institution: helping with Sunday school, youth group or children's ministry. This comes under the churches, clubs and associations or religious representatives categories.
- School: providing activities or services to children. This comes under the school-employees other than teachers category.
- Kindergarten or childcare services: volunteering at a kindergarten or childcare centre or outside school hours care service. This comes under the education and care services category.
- Gym, martial arts club or other fitness activity: taking part in activities for children at a gym, martial arts club or other fitness service. This comes under the sport, active recreation, gyms and play facilities category.
- Children's entertainment, beauty pageant or talent program: helping with children’s shows, talent competitions, beauty pageants or similar activities. This comes under the entertainment, beauty and photography services category.
- Agricultural show or community event: running children’s activities, competitions or events for children. This comes under the churches, clubs and associations category.
Volunteering at overnight camps
The following exemptions do not apply to overnight camps:
- parent volunteer
- volunteering for 7 days or less.
You must hold a blue card before you attend an overnight camp.
Read more about blue cards for overnight camps.
Changing from volunteer to paid work
If you have a volunteer blue card and start paid child-related work or business, you must transfer your volunteer card to a paid card.
Learn about transferring from a volunteer card to a paid card.
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