Blue card support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
In the spirit of reconciliation, Blue Card Services acknowledges Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional owners and Custodians of Country. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to their Elders past, present and emerging.
This page explains how Blue Card Services supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities across Queensland.
How we support communities
Our team includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officers.
We help people and organisations with:
- blue card applications
- blue card assessments
- questions about the blue card system.
We regularly visit remote, regional and other communities across Queensland
When we visit, we can:
- help people apply for a blue card
- provide one-on-one support
- explain how the blue card system works
- meet with organisations
- work with Elders, councils and community justice groups
- provide information about applications and assessments.
We also work with the Indigenous Driver Licensing Unit (IDLU) to help people fix identification issues before they apply for a blue card.
Before we visit a community, we:
- ask permission to visit
- contact local organisations and community members
- publish upcoming visits on our events page.
Why we visit communities
Meeting people face-to-face helps us better understand their circumstances.
This helps us consider all the information we need when assessing an application.
Talking together, or having a yarn, can help us understand your story if you have a criminal history or other assessable information.
Hearing your story helps us make a fair and informed decision.
If you need help with your application, come and yarn with us when we visit your community.
Communities we visit
We regularly visit communities across Queensland.
- Bamaga
- Boigu Island
- Cherbourg
- Coen
- Doomadgee
- Erub (Darnley Island)
- Hope Vale
- Iama (Yam Island)
- Injinoo
- Kowanyama
- Lockhart River
- Mornington Island including Gununa
- Masig Island (Yorke Island)
- Mabuiag Island
- Mapoon
- Mer Island
- Moa Island
- Mossman
- Murgon
- Napranum
- New Mapoon
- Normanton
- Palm Island
- Pormpuraaw
- Saibai Island
- Thursday Island
- Umagico
- Warraber Island
- Weipa
- Wellesley Islands
- Woorabinda
- Wujal
- Yarrabah
Do you need a blue card?
Not everyone needs a blue card.
You may need a blue card if you work or volunteer with children in:
- schools
- early childhood education and care services
- sport and recreation organisations
- health and community services
- some community organisations.
Find out when you need a blue card.
Applying for a blue card
When you apply, we complete the blue card check.
If we find police information or other assessable information, we may need more information before we make a decision.
Tell us your story
If we need more information, we want to hear your side of the story.
You can tell us:
- in writing
- over the phone
- face-to-face
- through someone you trust, such as an Elder, community justice group or someone you work with.
You can tell us about:
- whether you agree with the information we have
- what was happening in your life at the time
- positive changes you have made
- courses or programs you have completed
- your experiences working with or caring for children
- your connection to your family and community
- your involvement in groups, church or community activities
- anything else you think we should know, including references.
We may call or text you if we need more information.
It is important that we hear your story before we make a decision during the risk assessment.
First Nations engagement team
During a risk assessment we help decision-makers understand cultural information.
This may include:
- systemic disadvantage
- intergenerational trauma
- historical barriers to justice
- cultural factors that may help explain your circumstances.
More information
You can also find out about: