**2021 UPDATE NOTICE** - please note that the information below was produced as guidance for sporting organisations a number of years ago and as such is currently under review to ensure it is up to date and reflects recent regulatory and legal changes to the community sport landscape.
As soon as updated versions are available - they will be provided, together with links to up to date source material for your reference. In the meantime however, please note that this information remains guidance only. You should check with the relevant State/Territory organisations local to you to ensure you are accessing up to date information.
It remains the responsibility of each individual club/sporting organisation to ensure that their club policies and procedures are contemporary, up to date and meet your compliance and legal requirements. PBTR takes no responsibility for any content that is out of date or inaccurate due to the passage of time.
In Queensland, key child protection responsibilities for sport and recreation relate to:
The Blue Card System
The purpose of the blue card system is to contribute to the creation of safe and supportive environments for children and young people when receiving services and participating in activities which are essential to their development and wellbeing, such as child care, education, sport, and cultural activities.
While many people are familiar with the blue card itself, it is important to be aware that the initial blue card screening is only the first component of a three part system which considers past, present, and future risks:
- Blue card screening to determine a person's eligibility to work with children and young people based on their known past behaviour
- Ongoing monitoring of all blue card holders and applicants which enables action to be taken to protect children and young people if the person is charged with a concerning offence, and
- Mitigating future risk through the requirement for organisations providing child related services to develop and implement child and youth risk management strategies.
Blue card screening
This assesses a person’s eligibility to hold a blue card or exemption card based on their known past police and disciplinary information. This process also disqualifies certain people upfront and prevents people from working with children whose past behaviour indicates they are not eligible to enter regulated child-related employment.
Ongoing monitoring
The police information of all card holders and applicants is monitored. If the information changes, immediate steps can be taken to protect children from harm. Service providers and card holders are also monitored to ensure they are meeting their blue card system obligations and providing safe environments for children.
Child and youth risk management strategies
Organisations who provide child-related services must have policies and procedures in place to identify and minimise the risk of harm to children. These risk management strategies are monitored and must be reviewed annually.
What is the difference between a Blue Card Check and a Police Check?
The Blue Card Check (also known as a Working with Children Check) and a Police Check are two different checks. The Blue Card Check is an ongoing assessment of a person’s eligibility to work or volunteer with children and involves a check of a person’s national criminal history (including all spent convictions, pending and non-conviction charges) and other disciplinary and police information.
The Police Check is only current on the day of issue and is a list of offences from a person’s criminal history which can be disclosed. It does not involve an assessment by a government agency. Find out the main differences between a Blue Card Check and Police Check.
What is an exemption card?
If you are a registered teacher or police officer in Queensland, you do not apply for a blue card and should instead apply for an exemption card when providing regulated services to children which are outside of your professional duties.
What is a risk management strategy?
Safe environments don’t just happen, they require ongoing planning, commitment and maintenance. Organisations falling within the scope of the blue card system are required to implement child and youth risk management strategies which address eight minimum requirements. The purpose of these strategies is to ensure that organisations have appropriate policies and procedures in place which assist in identifying and minimising the risk of harm to children and young people in regulated service environments.
Who has to apply?
To apply for a blue card, a person must be employed (either in a paid or voluntary capacity) in a category of regulated child-related employment. The application form requires the employer’s details and a nominated contact person from the organisation. The employer has the responsibility of verifying the employee’s identity and must complete a declaration on the form that they have verified the applicant’s identity by sighting the relevant identification documents.
Volunteers
Volunteers who work with children and young people must hold a blue card if their work falls into a category of regulated employment, regardless of how often they will come into contact with children and young people, unless an exemption applies. Examples of when you require a blue card are:
- A volunteer coach or coaches’ assistant of a junior sporting team, e.g. a coach at the local cricket or soccer club
- A volunteer trainer, e.g. a trainer preparing nippers for a surf lifesaving competition.
- A chaperone for a junior sports team on an interstate or international trip, e.g. a grandparent acting as a chaperone for a junior hockey team on a trip
- A volunteer supporting athletes at a junior swimming meet.
- A volunteer member of a board/committee for a community organisation which provides regulated activities for children e.g. the local football club.
Paid employees
Paid employees need a blue card if their work in sport or active recreation includes, or is likely to include, providing services that are directed mainly towards children, or conducting activities that mainly involve children, for at least:
- eight consecutive days, or
- once a week, each week, over four weeks, or
- once a fortnight, each fortnight, over eight weeks, or
- once a month, each month, over six months,
- unless an exemption applies.
Paid employees who work with a church, club or association may need a blue card and may apply under the 'Churches, clubs and associations involving children' category of regulated employment. Examples of people who need a blue card"
- Paid entertainers running games and activities with children at birthday parties, or
- Paid photographers taking photographs of children at a sporting event.
Blue cards for paid employees are valid for three years and the prescribed application fee is $84.25.
A paid employee can commence regulated child-related work once their application is lodged with Blue Card Services.
Certain people are prohibited from applying for or renewing a blue card.
Business operators
Business operators must hold a blue card before commencing work if their work falls into a category of regulated business. Your employees and volunteers may also require a blue card. For more information about your obligations as a business operator please refer to the Obligations for regulated
organisations information sheet on the Blue Card Services website.
Examples of when a business owner requires a blue card are:
- A business operator providing private coaching services to children or targeted child related sports activities, e.g. a learn to swim school or a martial arts centre which trains junior martial artists to compete at junior championships
- You are a personal trainer and a parent engages you to provide one-on-one personal training sessions to their child
- A remedial massage therapist providing massage services to children
- An executive officer of a company providing sports services to children on a commercial basis.
Business operators must also implement child and youth risk management strategies. This includes policies and procedures aimed at identifying and minimising potential risks of harm to young people, including codes of conduct, procedures for recruiting and managing staff and volunteers, as well as policies for reporting disclosures or suspicions of harm to children.
What does a blue card check cover?
A blue card check is a detailed national check of a person’s criminal history, including any charges or convictions. Also considered is disciplinary information held by certain professional organisations and, in certain circumstances, police investigative information about allegations of serious child related sexual offending.
Who doesn't need a blue card?
You will not require a blue card if you are a volunteer parent and your child is receiving the service you are providing. Certain people are prohibited from applying for or renewing a blue card.
A paid employee can commence regulated child-related work once their application is lodged with Blue Card Services. Blue cards for paid employees are valid for three years and the prescribed application fee is $84.25.
If you don't require screening under this category, you might still need screening under another. Please check all categories.
Are there penalties for not conducting the blue card check?
Yes, there are a range of penalties for not complying with the Commission’s Act. Some offences may incur a fine of up to $$60,950 or up to five years imprisonment. For a full list of employer and employee obligations under the Act please refer to Bluecard website
Are there exemptions?
Volunteers do not need a blue card if they are:
- A volunteer parent coaching at the local sports club and their child is playing at the club
- A canteen operator at the sports ground where junior sports are played
- A team member over the age of 18 which includes a person under the age of 18
- A volunteer coach under the age of 18
- A student under the age of 18
Paid employees do not need a blue card if they are:
- A mentor for a coach of a junior sporting organisation and your role is focused on the professional development of the head coach and your duties do not involve contact with children
- An employee of a surf school providing services to the general public and a child attends with a parent
Business operators do not need a blue card if they are:
- A personal trainer running boot camp classes for the general public and a child attends with their parent
- A registered health practitioner providing health services to athletes under the age of 18, e.g. a physiotherapist treating a junior athlete.
NOTE: this is not an exhaustive list and even though one category may not apply, you may still require a blue card under an alternative category.
What are the requirements for visitors from other states/territories?
Under the Commission’s Act, there is no exemption or provision that deals specifically with interstate visitors. However there are exemptions within certain categories of regulated employment or business that might apply to interstate visitors providing services to children in Queensland.
If you intend to visit Queensland to provide child-related services, you are encouraged to check the categories of regulated employment and regulated business to see if you need a blue card or whether an exemption might apply to you.
Where can apply for a blue card? Contact the QLD Government Blue Card Services
This means that if you engage in more than one regulated activity, the one blue card can be used for each activity. You don’t need to submit more than one application.
Resources
Blue Card Services website - information sheets
Blue Card Services ph 1800 113 611 (free call) between 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
Reporting child abuse
What gets reported?
You should report your concerns to Child Safety if you reasonably suspect that a child may be in need of protection, or that an unborn child may be in need of protection after they are born. A child who may be in need of protection has suffered, is suffering, or is at an unacceptable risk of suffering significant harm and may not have a parent able and willing to protect them from harm. You don’t have to have proof. If you suspect that a child (and that includes anyone under 18) is in need of protection then you should report it immediately.
Who is required to report?
Although people working in sporting or recreation organisations are not mandatory reporters, there may be some individuals who do have this responsibility as a result of their employment with other organisations (e.g. teachers who coach the local team). Even though not required by law anyone who suspects that a child or young person is at risk of neglect or abuse should report it to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.
How do I make a report?
If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services:
- During normal business hours - contact the Regional Intake Service
- After hours and on weekends - contact the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on 1800 177 135 or (07) 3235 9999. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week
If you believe a child is in immediate danger or in a life-threatening situation, contact the Queensland Police Service immediately by dialling 000.
Queensland Police Service has a number of child protection and investigation units across Queensland. To contact the Queensland Police Service, contact the Police District Communication Centre nearest you.
If you aren't sure who to call, or for assistance to locate your nearest child safety service centre, contact Child Safety Services' Enquiries Unit on 1800 811 810. Child safety service centres have professionally trained child protection staff who are skilled in dealing with information about harm or risk of harm to children. When you make a report to Child Safety Services or the Queensland Police Service, your details are kept confidential and your identity is strictly protected.
Responding to child abuse
Child Safety Services is the lead child protection agency in Queensland and is required by law to ensure that children and young people are safe from abuse, neglect and harm in their homes. When we receive information about harm or risk of harm to a child or young person up to 18 years of age, and suspect that they may require protection, our child safety officers will complete an investigation and assessment to determine the ongoing safety of the child. Our role in protecting children and young people is to:
- investigate and assess concerns that a child or young person has been harmed or is at risk of significant harm
- provide ongoing services to children and young people who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing significant harm
- Child safety officers conduct thorough investigations and assessments to determine the protection and care needs of children and young people
- In deciding if a child is in need of protection, child safety officers will determine
whether:
- the child or young person has suffered significant harm, is suffering significant harm, or is at risk of suffering significant harm
- does not have a parent or carer able and willing to protect them from harm.
If a child or young person's parents are unable or unwilling to protect them, we will provide help and support for the child, young person and their family.
Child safe environment strategies
Child-safe environment strategies are put in place to prevent and minimise opportunities for child abuse within your organisation including preventing offenders from gaining access to your organisation. They include ensuring your staff and volunteers understand their child protection obligations and that staff and volunteers know who to go to should they have suspicions a child may be at risk of harm.
Every child and young person has the right to grow up in a safe and supportive family and to have opportunities that assist them to reach their full potential. One of the ways this can be achieved is through supporting families to provide for the physical, social and emotional needs of children and young people.
- If a child or young person has been harmed or is at risk of harm, it is important for the whole family to be supported
- Support networks can work to strengthen families and can consist of friends, family members, community or non-government services
- If you suspect that a child or young person has suffered significant harm, is suffering significant harm or is at risk of suffering significant harm, contact us to report your concerns
- If the person responsible for the harm is a child or young person, reporting your concerns may enable them to get help to address their behaviour
- When you report concerns to us or the Queensland Police Service, your details are kept confidential and your identity is protected.
What does establishing a child-safe environment involve?
Basically it requires putting strategies in place to prevent offenders from gaining access to your organisation and reducing opportunities for abuse. These strategies include:
- Understanding the different types of child abuse.
- Identifying potential risks and dangers to children (e.g. going away on camps) and managing those risks
- Developing guidelines and processes that clearly outline how to respond to child protection issue
- Choosing your staff with care
- State your commitment to a child safe environment when advertising vacant positions
- Seek criminal history checks for employees/volunteers working with children. For information on Queensland’s “blue card” system, visit: www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
- Conduct referee checks (particularly with previous child-related employers, if possible)
- Nominating a child protection officer or Member Protection Information Officer who people can trust and go to with concerns
- Ensuring that all staff (paid and volunteers) understand their mandatory/ethical reporting obligations for suspected child abuse
- Ensuring staff have a clear understanding of acceptable/ unacceptable behaviour and know who to contact to about concerns they may have.
- Talking openly about the importance of ensuring the safety of children within your organisation.
Resources
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services website
Blue Card Services website
Updated: August 2017
