A person may not need a blue card if the regulated child-related work they are doing is not frequent. The frequency test tells us how long a person can work in regulated employment without a blue card, under certain circumstances.
This page also explains changes to exemption cards held by police officers and teachers registered with the Queensland College of Teachers.
Frequency test
The frequency test checks whether a person needs a blue card based on how much regulated work (paid or volunteer) they will do in a year.
Duration 2:16
If you work or volunteer with kids in Queensland, there is important information you need to know.
On 31 August 2020, the Queensland Government made changes to the blue card system. To make it better. Better for you, better for our kids.
A frequency test checks whether a person needs a blue card based on how much work they do with kids each year.
On 31 August 2020, a simplified frequency test was introduced. People working with kids for not more than 7 days in a calendar year, do not need a blue card. The 7 day frequency test applies to volunteers, students and paid employees.
Business operators require a blue card regardless of how often they work with kids. For example, a person providing home stay services for 10 days in a calendar year will need a blue card.
The new laws introduced a new renewal process. You are able to continue in paid employment, volunteering, student placement or running your business as long as you submit your renewal application before your current card expires.
A reminder text message is sent 10 weeks before your blue card expires and we accept renewal applications up to 16 weeks before the expiry date.
If you do not renew your blue card before it expires, you are subject to the No Card, No Start laws and must not continue in paid employment, volunteering, student placement or run your business until a new blue card has been issued.
By working together and knowing how these changes affect you we can build a stronger blue card system and keep Queensland kids safe.
For more information about these changes, visit our website, phone our call centre, send us an email or watch our other videos available on our website.
You do not need a blue card if your regulated child-related work is not more than7 days in a calendar year. If it is more than 7 days, a blue card is needed.
For this test, a ‘day’ includes a full day or part of a day (e.g. 2 hours of work on 1 day is considered to be a day). A ‘calendar year’ covers the period from 1 January to 31 December.
You cannot rely on the frequency test if you are either:
The new frequency test only applies to volunteers, paid employees and students doing practical placements for their course.
There is no minimum frequency test for people who run a regulated child-related business—you will always need a blue card.
This new frequency test replaces all existing frequency tests.
For example:
A person invited to perform as a guest speaker at an event for 2 days in a calendar year does not need a blue card.
A person providing child accommodation or homestay services for 10 days in a calendar year does need a blue card.
Exemption cards for Queensland police and teachers
Exemption cards are only held by police officers with the Queensland Police Service and teachers registered with the Queensland College of Teachers—and only required for work outside of a person’s professional duties (e.g. if a police officer is a foster parent, or a teacher volunteers at the local sporting club).
Exemption cards now have expiry dates and are valid for 3 years. They will expire if not renewed.
Duration 1:43
If you work or volunteer with kids in Queensland, there is important information you need to know.
On 31 August 2020, the Queensland Government made changes to the blue card system. To make it better. Better for you, better for our kids.
Police officers with the Queensland Police Service and teachers registered with the Queensland College of Teachers apply for exemption cards, not blue cards.
The new laws include changes to exemption cards. From 31 August 2020, exemption cards have expiry dates and are valid for three years.
They expire if not renewed. Existing exemption card holders whose cards do not have an expiry date have until 31 August 2023 to renew their card or it will expire.
Exemption card applicants are able to start work as soon as they apply online or submit their application.
Existing card holders can start work as soon as they are linked with their new organisation.
Exemption card applications and renewals continue to be free.
By working together and knowing how these changes affect you, we can build a stronger blue card system and keep Queensland kids safe.
For more information about these changes, visit our website, phone our call centre, send us an email or watch our other videos available on our website.
If your exemption card does not have an expiry date printed on it, you will need to renew it by 31 August 2023.
The No Card, No Start law does not apply to exemption card applicants. Exemption card applicants can start in regulated child-related work as soon as they submit the exemption card application form to us.
If you have an existing exemption card, you can start in new employment as soon as the employer links you to their organisation as an exemption card holder.
There are no fees for exemption card applications and renewals.
