Blue cards for tradespeople
Whether you need a blue card depends on:
- where you work
- if children are there
- the location is a regulated child-related environment
- whether an exemption applies.
On this page
When tradespeople need a blue card
The examples below are a guide only.
They do not cover every situation.
Education and care services
Education and care services provide education or care for children under 13.
They do not include schools.
Examples include:
- outside school hours care (OSHC)
- family day care
- day care
- kindergartens.
You need a blue card if you work in these places while children are there.
You need a blue card if you:
- repair a fence at a family day care service
- replace power points inside a day care centre
- repaint classrooms at a kindergarten
- work on the grounds of an OSHC
- service air conditioning units during business hours.
You do not need a blue card if you:
- deliver office or food supplies at reception
- fix lights at a childcare service on a weekend when no children are there
- repaint a kindergarten when it is closed and no children are there
- do emergency repairs when the service is closed.
Learn more about blue card requirements for education and care services.
Schools
Most tradespeople do not need a blue card to work at a school.
You do not need a blue card if:
- your work is not for children, and
- you only have incidental contact with children.
Some schools also have an education and care service. This may include OSHC or state-delivered kindergarten.
You may need a blue card if you work in these areas while children are there.
If you are not sure where you will work, ask the school before you start.
You need a blue card if you:
- do maintenance inside an OSHC or kindergarten while children are there
- provide IT support directly to students.
You do not need a blue card if you:
- fix an air conditioner at a school
- repair a school roof
- deliver office or food supplies
- fix a broken drain on school grounds.
Learn more about blue card requirements for schools.
School boarding facilities
You need a blue card if you usually work inside a school boarding facility.
You need a blue card if you:
- do electrical work
- clean dormitories.
You do not need a blue card if you:
- deliver office or food supplies
- repair a school roof for a classroom and not enter the boarding facility
- work on sporting grounds that are separate to the boarding facility.
Learn more about blue card requirements for school-boarding facilities.
Residential facilities
You need a blue card if you work inside a residential facility while children are there.
You need a blue card if you:
- clean inside the facility
- paint inside the facility
- repair bathrooms.
You do not need a blue card if you:
- deliver materials outside the facility
- repair a separate office that is not part of the residential facility.
Learn more about blue card requirements for residential facilities.
Justice and detention services
You need a blue card if you usually work inside a justice and detention centre.
You need a blue card if you:
- do maintenance work
- replace cell door locks
- service security systems.
You do not need a blue card if you:
- deliver office or food supplies at reception
- repair a separate office building that is not part of the youth detention centre.
Learn more about blue card requirements for justice and detention services.
Overnight camps
You may need a blue card if you work at an overnight camp or excursion.
You may need one if you stay overnight while children are there.
Learn more about blue cards for overnight camps.
Working for 7 days or less
You do not need a blue card if you do regulated child-related work for no more than 7 days in a calendar year.
This does not apply if you:
- take part in an overnight camp of excursion
- are a business owner or operator
- are a restricted person.
You need a blue card if you:
- carry out work at a residential facility for 2 weeks
- are a business owner or operator working at a boarding facility.
You do not need a blue card if you:
- do maintenance at a youth detention centre for 3 days during the year
- work at a school boarding facility for 5 days in a calendar year.
Business owners and operators
Business owners and operators cannot rely on the 7-day exemption.
If your business performs regulated work, you must:
- hold a blue card if one is required
- meet your obligations.
More information
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