Blue cards for schools
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If you work, volunteer, or run a business providing services at a school, you need a blue card.
A school means either:
- a state school that provides primary, secondary or special education
- a school that is accredited, or provisionally accredited, under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017.
If you provide education for children who are not school age, see the education and care services category.
Schools - employees other than teachers
You need a blue card if you work in an area of a school where children are being educated or cared for, or where children can enter during school hours.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a school cleaner
- a groundskeeper
- a bus driver employed by the school
- a teacher aide
- an administration officer
- a student teacher on placement
- a principal, teacher or support worker who is not registered with the Queensland College of Teachers.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a teacher registered with the Queensland College of Teachers
- a tradesperson doing maintenance or repairs with only incidental contact with students
- a parent volunteering in activities that involves your own child, unless you are a restricted person.
Parent volunteer exemption
You may not need a blue card if you volunteer for an activity that involves your own child.
This exemption does not apply if:
- the activity is an overnight camp
- the activities involves close physical contact with students.
Read about the parent volunteer exemption.
P&C and P&F associations
Executive committee members of Parents and Citizens’ (P&C) or Parents and Friends (P&F) associations must have a blue card under the churches, clubs and associations or education and care services category, even if their child attends the school.
Read more about blue card requirements for these associations.
Education services and activities conducted inside a school
You need a blue card if your business provides services or activities at a school while children are present.
You do not need a blue card if your business is not for children and only have incidental contact with them.
Examples
You need a blue card if you:
- provide cultural programs
- provide faith-based services
- deliver sport or recreation programs
- provide external music services
- give motivational talks to students
- operate a petting zoo, agriculture program or wildlife experience.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- carry out maintenance or repairs with only incidental contact with students
- provide professional development for teachers or other adults without children present
- audit equipment with only incidental contact with students.
School boarding facilities
A school boarding facility is an environment-based category.
You need a blue card if you work at a boarding school while children are present.
You do not need a blue card if you are a teacher registered with the Queensland College of Teachers.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a dormitory worker
- a night attendant
- a cook
- a cleaners
- a maintenance worker
- a boarding coordinator
- any other staff members working at the boarding facility.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a teacher registered with the Queensland College of Teachers
- a parent volunteering in your own child’s activities, unless you are a restricted person
- a maintenance worker doing repairs when students are not present.
School crossing supervisors
You need a blue card if your job includes supervising a school crossing.
Examples
You need a blue card if you are:
- a crossing guard directing traffic at a school crossing.
You do not need a blue card if you are:
- a council worker or other person directing traffic at roadworks or a public event.
Principals of state schools
As a state school principal, you are the employer for workers who need a blue card under the Schools - employees other than teachers category.
You are the person who is told if the status of a blue card or exemption card status changes.
More information
You can also find out about:
- blue cards for non-state schools – directors of governing bodies and authorised persons
- obligations under the blue card system
- executive officers and board or committee members
- linking requirements for organisations
- when you don’t need a blue card
- who cannot apply for or hold a blue card
- how to apply for a blue card or exemption card.