Blue cards for neighbourhood community centres

Under the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the Act) you may require a blue card when working or volunteering with children in a neighbourhood community centre, based on the type, frequency and environment of the work carried out.

The purpose of the blue card system is to contribute to ensuring safe and supportive environments for children and young people. Under the Act there are different types of categories, services or activities that may apply to people who work or volunteer at a neighbourhood community centre.

These include:

• Childcare services category of employment or business
• Churches, clubs and associations category
• Health, counselling and support services category of employment or business

There are some situations where a person is exempt from needing a blue card, however they cannot work or volunteer with children or young people within a neighbourhood community centre if they are a restricted person.

When you don’t need a blue card

You don’t need a blue card in every environment where a child may be present. Examples include:

• holding public community events such as fun runs or movie nights that include food vans or stalls
• working in an op shop or community cafe alongside young people
• providing meals-on-wheels or a school-based traineeship selling groceries to local community members
• hosting a one-off activity or event, such as a community easter egg hunt
• running a seniors program in the community centre for the elderly.

When you do need a blue card

People who are operating, working or volunteering in a neighbourhood community centre for more than 7 days will need a blue card if they:

• conduct children’s support programs, captured under the Health, counselling and support services category of regulated employment
• work inside a crèche or kids club, captured under the Childcare services category
• provide services or conduct activities mainly for children or young people, captured under the Churches, clubs and associations category, such as
  • under-18s disco with a DJ, canteen staff and security officers
  • children’s parties, dance or language classes
  • operating a market stall with children’s activities.

Engaging other business

In some cases, a centre may wish to engage another business to provide services or activities to children during an event. For example, if your centre hosts a family fun day that includes hiring a jumping castle with employees to supervise and assist the children. The relevant category for these services will be the Sport and active recreation category of employment or business.

It will be the responsibility of the individual business to ensure they comply with blue card obligations.

More information

• Read about when you need a blue card for sporting and fitness.
• Read about blue card obligations.