Blue cards for education and care services
You need a blue card if you:
- work or volunteer in an education and care service premises
- enter an education and care service while children are there
- are an adult who lives in a home where family day care or another home-based education and care service is provided
- run a business that provides education and care services.
This is an environment-based category.
Most adults who enter an education and care service while children are there need a blue card. This applies even if they do not work directly with children.
What is an education and care service
An education and care service can include:
- childcare centres
- kindergartens
- family day care
- outside school hours care
- vacation care.
Employees and volunteers
When a blue card is needed
Staff and volunteers
- early childhood educators at a kindergarten, childcare centre or family day care service
- educators and support staff at an outside school hours care service.
Other adults entering the service
- cleaners, cooks and maintenance workers
- other workers who enter a kindergarten or childcare centre
- grandparents or other relatives who volunteer at a kindergarten or childcare centre
- tradespeople who work while children are there
Home-based services
A blue card is needed by adults who live in a home where family day care or another home-based education and care service is provided.
Students and supervises
A blue card is needed by:
- students doing a practical placement, including students under 18
- people supervising or assessing students on placement.
Teachers
Queensland registered teachers need a blue card when they attend a kindergarten with school students as a part of a school activity.
When a blue card is not needed
A blue card is not needed for:
- parents who drop off or collect their child
- people who work at the service while children are not there, such as after hours or weekends
- parents who volunteer in activities involving their own child.
If you provide child minding as a nanny, au pair or babysitter, refer to the childcare services category.
Business owners and operators
You need a blue card if your business:
- operates an education and care service, such as a childcare centre, kindergarten, family day care or outside school hours care service
- provides services within a education and care service premises while children are being educated and cared for.
Examples
A blue card is needed if you:
- operate a childcare centre
- operate a family day care service
- provide transport services for a childcare service
- provide maintenance or other business services at an education and care service while children are there.
A blue card is not needed if your business works at an education and care service when children are not there. For example, this may include work on weeknights, weekends or during holidays.
More information
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