Blue cards for directors and governing bodies of non-state schools
Directors of non-state school governing bodies have obligations under the blue card system as they are deemed to be business operators and carrying on a business regulated by the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the Act).
All directors of non-state school governing bodies are required to have a blue or exemption card under the Non-state schools—directors of governing bodies and authorised persons category of regulated business before they commence in their position as director.
Blue Card Services has an obligation to notify the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) of the outcome of any application made by a director of a non- state school governing body and any relevant changes to that person’s status as a card holder.
It is an offence for a director of a non-state school governing body to commence operating a regulated business without a blue or exemption card. The maximum penalty is 500 penalty units or 5 years imprisonment.
Blue card obligations for directors
The Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 requires directors of non-state school governing bodies to hold a working with children authority (blue or exemption card) before starting work as a director.
Directors who are also a registered teacher or police officer should apply for an exemption card. Directors who are not a registered teacher or police officer should apply for a blue card.
Your application must be approved before commencing your work as a director.
When applying, select the ‘Director of a corporation which is the governing body for an accredited or proposed non-state school’ category.
If you do not receive payment for your work as a director or you only receive reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses, you can get your blue card for free. If you receive payment for your work as a director, you must pay the prescribed fee when applying for a blue card.
All existing card holders must notify us using the approved form when starting in any other child-related work regulated by the Act—whether as a volunteer, paid employee or business operator, in either a paid or volunteer capacity. For example, if a person has a volunteer blue card linked with a church organisation and takes up a position as director of a governing body of a non-state school.
Directors who hold blue or exemption cards with other organisations and do not advise us when they commence in the role of director of a non-state school governing body are committing an offence under the Act and penalties may apply.
Blue card obligations of a governing body
The governing body of a non-state school must ensure all directors have:
- a valid blue or exemption card
- notified us of the governing body for which the director has been appointed.
Apply for a blue or exemption card
Directors of non-state school governing bodies can apply for a blue or exemption card online or using the appropriate paper form:
- Blue card business application
- Exemption card business application (for Queensland registered teachers and police officers)
- Notification of change for self-employed person
- Volunteer to business transfer
- Statutory declaration—fee waive (for volunteers).
When completing a paper form, complete all sections of the form. For ‘Type of child related activity’ tick the box titled ‘Director of a corporation which is the governing body for an accredited or proposed non-state school’.
In the section ‘Name of school’ write the name of the governing body. If the governing body has only 1 school attached, you can also include the name of the school.
When applying, select ‘Director of a corporation which is the governing body for an accredited or proposed non-state school’ category.
Fee waiver
Directors who do not receive payment or only receive reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses must include a Statutory declaration—fee waive with their paper application. Directors who apply online can make this declaration using the online application.