No Card, No Start and changes to applications and renewals
The No Card, No Start law means you must have a valid blue card before you start work.
You are now able to apply for a blue card before you get a job, so you can be job-ready.
If you don’t renew your blue card by the time it expires, you will be subject to the No Card, No Start law and cannot work.
No Card, No Start law
The No Card, No Start law is a key part of how we are building a stronger, more streamlined blue card system.
No Card, No Start means that paid workers must have a blue card (no longer a pending application) before they can work with children.
Duration 1:47
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.
The No Card, No Start laws are a key part of how we are building a stronger, more streamlined blue card system and helping to keep kids safe in Queensland.
People with paid applications submitted prior to 31 August 2020 are able to continue working while
their applications are assessed. However, all applications submitted on or after 31 August 2020 are subject to the No Card, No Start laws.
The No Card, No Start laws mean you must have a blue card, no longer a pending application, before you can work with children.
This means you cannot run a regulated child-related business or work or volunteer with kids until your blue card application has been approved.
Existing card holders must renew their blue card before it expires to continue working with kids.
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.
However, if you submitted a paid application before the new laws started, you can continue working while your application is assessed.
There is no change for volunteers, trainee students and people running regulated child-related businesses—you have always needed a blue card before you could start working or volunteering with children.
Duration 01:28
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.
Volunteers play a vital role in many organisations who provide services to children.
Volunteers need to be linked to their organisation in order to continue getting a blue card for free.
To avoid delays with your application, talk to the person who looks after blue cards in your organisation.
Applications continue to be free for students and trainees enrolled in a tertiary course that require a blue card.
To avoid delays with your application, talk to your university or education provider about linking you with their organisation.
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 you are a jobseeker, you can apply for a paid blue card to be job-ready.
Duration 01:31
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.
As part of the No Card, No Start laws you must have a blue card before you can start working or volunteering with kids.
You are able to apply for a blue card before you find work. With a stronger identity check, an online applicant portal and faster approval time, you can be job-ready.
People applying for a blue card before they find work need to pay for their blue card application and indicate they are a job seeker on the application form.
Having a blue card means you can start in child-related employment without delay.
When you commence in child-related employment, you then need to be linked to the organisation you are working for.
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.
To support the introduction of the No Card, No Start law:
organisations are able to use the online Organisation Portal to manage their blue card records and obligations more easily.
Applying for a blue card
There are some changes to the application process:
quicker identity confirmation from a partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads
a fully online application submission process that will speed up turnaround times.
Verifying your identity
We work with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to verify your identity and obtain the photo for your blue/exemption card. This means organisations will no longer need to sight and verify your identification documents on your blue/exemption card application.
For many, this will be the number and photo on your driver licence, photo identity card or marine licence. More than 4.5 million people already have a CRN.
Duration 2:13
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.
To apply for a blue card, you need a Customer Reference Number, also known as a CRN, from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. We call this TMR.
A CRN is the number on your driver's licence, marine licence or photo identification card.
You can find more information about locating your CRN on TMR's website.
We work with TMR to verify your identity and obtain the photo for your blue card.
If your photo was taken more than six years and nine months ago, you will need to visit a TMR Customer Service Centre and get a new photo taken.
If you are not sure how long ago your photo was taken by TMR, give us a call and we can help you with that.
If you don't already have a CRN you can apply for free at one of the TMR Customer Service Centres with your ID documents.
A list of accepted ID documents and customer service centre locations is also available on the TMR website.
TMR will take your photo and give you a CRN which you will take with you and use during your online application for a blue card.
The photo that is taken will be printed on your blue card following your successful application.
There is a fee for your blue card application if you're a paid employee, business operator or a job seeker getting a blue card for paid work and this will be payable during your online application.
We know that not all towns have a TMR Customer Service Centre, however, there are other agencies where you can get a CRN and photo taken.
Call us and we can help you find the best way to access one. There is also a link on our website with this information.
Once you've got your CRN and photo taken you can apply for your blue card online.
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 you don’t have a CRN, the easiest and fastest way to get one is to visit a TMR Customer Service Centre. You will need to prove your identity. There is no fee for the CRN or the photo.
You are able to apply for or renew your blue or exemption card using the online applicant portal. This will mean a faster approval time for most applicants.
While you will be able to apply for a paid blue card at any time to be job-ready, volunteers and students need to be linked to an organisation to get a blue card for free.
Duration 2:01
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.
To apply for a blue card, you need a Customer Reference Number, also known as a CRN, from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. We call them TMR.
To find out more about this you can watch our video on how to apply for a blue card.
You can apply for and renew your blue card online. The Online Applicant Portal can be used on multiple devices such as a PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone.
You can pay for your application as part of the online process. You can also have someone else pay for your application, such as your employer. Existing card holders can renew their blue card without waiting for their employer to link them.
Most applications are processed in five business days unless further information or assessment is required.
It might take longer if there is any information missing or if we receive police or disciplinary information from the blue card check.
Applicants are notified by email when their application has been approved.
Of course, we still accept paper application forms from those people who don't have access to a computer or internet.
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.
Volunteer to paid transfer applications
If you hold a volunteer blue card and move into paid regulated child-related work, your card must be transferred to a paid card.
You will need to complete and submit a volunteer to paid employment transfer form (V to P), include your CRN on the form, and pay the application fee. Your new card will have your photograph on it.
You can start in paid work as soon as you have submitted this form to us.
As long as your eligibility has not changed (e.g. there is no change in your police history), a paid card will be issued. You can use the paid card for any other regulated child-related service—whether paid or unpaid.
Renewing expiring cards
As long as you submit your renewal applicationbefore your current card expires, you can continue to work in paid employment, volunteer, run your business or undertake your student placement—even if we haven’t issued your new blue card by the time your previous card expires.
If you don’t apply to renew your card before it expires, you will not be able to continue working or volunteering until a new blue card has been issued.
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.
Applying for a blue card
A general overview of how you can apply for a blue card.
Duration 2:13
If you work or volunteer with kids in Queensland we've got some news.
From 31 August 2020 the Queensland Government will make changes to the blue card system to make it better. Better for you, better for our kids.
To apply for a blue card you will need a Customer Reference Number, also known as a CRN, from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. We call this TMR.
To find out more about this you can watch our video on how to apply for a CRN from TMR.
As of 31 August 2020, you will be able to apply for and renew your blue card online. The online application system can be used on multiple devices such as a PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone.
You will be able to pay for your application as part of the online process. You can also have someone else pay for your application, such as your employer.
Existing card holders will be able to renew their blue card without waiting for their employer to link them. Most applications will be processed in five business days. However, it may take longer if any police information is found as part of the blue card check.
Applicants will be notified by email when their application has been approved.
Of course, we will continue to accept paper application forms for those who don't have access to a computer or internet.
If you need more information about this our friendly staff are here to help.
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.
