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Queensland

Queensland

The Blue Card System Explained

With some limited exceptions, anyone who works in a Club, Association or Discover Sailing Centre and provides services to children, or conducts activities for children, must have a blue card. This requirement applies to paid staff and volunteers alike. It is a responsibility of both the individual and the organisation to ensure that these requirements are met.

There are several exceptions to the requirement to hold a blue card, most notably that a parent who volunteers to provide services or conduct activities doesn’t need a blue card if their child receives similar services, or takes part in similar activities, that the parent provides at the same Club. For example, a parent doesn’t need a blue card to instruct a Tackers group if their child is also in the Tackers program at that Club.

For more information about who needs a blue card, including the exemptions mentioned above, visit Blue Card Services. You can also contact Blue Card Services on 1800 113 611 or 07 3211 6999, or visit qld.gov.au/bluecard.

Additional information for DSCs, Clubs and Associations

As an organisation that has employees or volunteers who work with children, you must:

  1. Ensure that anyone working with children has a valid blue card before they start working for you;
  2. Confirm the card-holder’s identity (for example, by checking photo ID);
  3. Link and delink card holders when they start and finish work with you (see here for instructions);
  4. Maintain a register of all people engaged in child-related work in your organisation;
  5. Develop and implement a child and youth risk management strategy (see below for more information); and
  6. Inform Blue Card Services of any change to your organisation’s information.

Queensland’s Child Safe Standards

Note - Clubs and Centres must comply with these new Child Safe Standards from 1st April 2026


Queensland's new child safeguarding law introducing Child Safe Standards has commenced, with a phased rollout over 2025 and 2026. Importantly for Clubs and Centres, organisations providing services or activities provided primarily for children must comply from 1 April 2026. Some organisations will also need to implement a Reportable Conduct Scheme by 1 July 2026.

There are 10 new Child Safe Standards, as well as a Universal Principle:

  1. Leadership and culture
  2. Voice of Children
  3. Family and community
  4. Equity and diversity
  5. People
  6. Complaints management
  7. Knowledge and skills
  8. Physical and online environments
  9. Continuous improvement
  10. Policies and procedures
  11. Universal Priniciple - Cultural Safety

Click here to find more information about these changes

To find out more about the Child Safe Standards, visit the website of the Queensland Family & Child Commission. This website explains the Standards, provides a whole host of helpful resources, and explains who needs to comply and when. You can also contact the QFCC with questions.

Mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse

Recently, the law in Queensland has changed to better protect children from abuse. Specifically, two new obligations have been introduced:

  1. All adults are now mandatory reporters. That is, all adults in the community that reasonably believe (or should reasonably believe) that a child under 16 is the victim of current or past sexual abuse must report it to the police as soon as possible, unless they have a reasonable excuse.
  2. Adults employed by, or who volunteer for, an institution that provides services or facilities for children have a duty to protect children from sexual abuse. Specifically, such a person commits an offence if they:
    1. Know there is a significant risk that another adult associated with the institution will commit a sexual offence against a child under 16 who is under the care, supervision or control of an institution; and
    2. Have the power or responsibility to reduce or remove the risk; and
    3. Wilfully or negligently fail to reduce or remove the risk.

Click here for more information about these changes.

Contacts

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 000.

If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm or being neglected, contact Child Safety Services and talk to someone about your concerns:

  • 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 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).