Blue card system statistics

The data on this page is for the 2022–23 financial year as at 30 September 2022.

It provides information about:

• the size of the blue card system in Queensland
• the strength of the safeguards it provides to children
• the support we provide to applicants, employers and community groups to increase blue card system participation and compliance
• our focus on increasing compliance to create safe environments for children.

Size of the blue card system

There are 889,212 current links between employers and card holders / applicants in the blue card system. One card holder / applicant can be linked to more than one employer or volunteer organisation at a time.

Currently 891,447 people are blue card holders and 11,967 are applicants.

Safeguards for children

We contribute to a safer and more secure Queensland for children through:

• screening
• monitoring
• compliance
• education and resources.

Screening

Our blue card screening involves a comprehensive check of whether there is any known criminal history or other information that raises concern about a person working with children. Where concerning information is identified, we undertake an assessment to determine if the person is eligible to work with children.

This process prevents people from working with children in regulated child-related environments if their past behaviour indicates that they are unable to protect a child from harm and promote their wellbeing.

Another important safeguard for Queensland children is the No Card, No Start laws, which mean all people working with children are screened before they can start child-related work.

To make this easier, people can now apply for and renew their blue cards using an online service, modernising the previously paper-based system.

63,187 Blue card applications finalised.

92.79% Blue card applications submitted online.

Online applicants with no police or other relevant information are usually approved for a blue card within a few days.

Between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022, online applications have been processed within:

3 days Average business days if no police or other relevant information is received.

13 days Average business days if less complex police or other relevant information is received.

Paper forms can take longer to process because they require manual entry and are impacted by peak processing periods.

Between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022, the processing times for paper applications and all applications (regardless of the mode of submission) were:

6 days Average business days for paper applications if no police or other relevant information is received.

3 days Average business days for all blue card applications (paper and online) if no police or other relevant information is received.

There are a number of factors that can impact our processing times, some of which are out of our control.

Monitoring

This is a critical component of the system, allowing us to take steps to protect children from harm when a person is charged with offences relevant to child-related employment.

It is therefore essential for employers to link a blue or exemption card holder to their organisation before starting them in regulated employment. This ensures the organisation will receive important notifications about the person’s blue card status, including if the card is suspended or cancelled.

903,414 Current card holders and applicants monitored daily.

263 Blue cards cancelled or suspended this year because of changes in police or other relevant information.

Compliance

We engage directly with individuals and employers to ensure they are compliant and supported in providing safe environments for children.

If we identify a breach of blue card system obligations, we can refer the matter to the police.

Where possible, our activities focus on helping organisations and individuals comply with their obligations under the blue card system and reduce risks of harm to children.

We have developed an organisation portal to help employers and volunteer organisations keep track of their blue card obligations and records.

Compliance activities include:

• educating and directing organisations and individuals to comply with specific requirements under the blue card system
• ensuring organisations have a child and youth risk management strategy in place that covers the 8 mandatory requirements
• checking that organisations have actioned our notifications that certain individuals cannot work with children.

Education and resources

Our education activities help individuals and organisations foster safer service environments by:

• increasing understanding of who needs a blue card and how to apply
• helping people and organisations meet their blue card obligations and
• working with organisations to educate them about their risk management requirements.

We also provide resources for individuals, organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

We are committed to breaking down barriers for First Nations Queenslanders by providing more support through each step of the blue card process. In 2022–23, Blue Card Services will:

• continue to implement the Safe children and strong communities strategy and action plan
• expand our dedicated team of identified liaison officers that help First Nations stakeholders with the blue card application and assessment processes, and provide a cultural lens on the decision-making process
• provide targeted cultural capability training for staff
• develop education resources and podcasts for First Nations communities and individuals, and provide free, tailored workshops in-person and online
• publish regular Blue Card Yarns newsletters
• increase attendance in remote communities and—at community events—give people the opportunity to learn about the blue card system, eligibility and how to apply.

Find out more about how we support these communities.

Our dedicated team of professionals—including identified liaison officers—continues to provide practical support to First Nations applicants and employers. Since 1 July 2022, this has included travelling to discrete communities (Yarrabah, Mossman, Palm Island, Weipa, Napranum and Mapoon) to provide one-on-one support to applicants engaging in the blue card application and assessment processes. We have also completed outreach visits to Toowoomba, Logan and Cairns to assist First Nations applicants with their blue card applications.

Since 1 July 2022, 89% of applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander were issued with a blue card.

To assist First Nations stakeholders to have a better understanding of the blue card system, in February 2022 we launched the Yarn with Jess podcast series. Jess—a proud Bidjara woman—presents 11 episodes with a number of guests to discuss all things blue card. The podcast had 250 views between 1 July and 30 September 2022.