Health, counselling and support services
Who needs a blue card?
Paid employees need a blue card if their work includes, or is likely to include, providing any of the following services:
- health services to a child at a children’s health facility, or
- health services directed only or mainly towards children at a general health facility, or
- health services at a place other than a health facility where they are providing services which require physical contact or where the service is provided while no-one else is present, or
- counselling services to a child while no-one else is present or if the person providing the services is not physically present with the child, or
- support services to a child while no-one else is present or if the person providing the services is not physically present with the child
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 will also need a blue card if a usual function of their employment is carried out, or is likely to be carried out, at a child-related service outlet of a funded non-government service provider, or NDIS non-government service provider, unless an exemption applies.
Police officers and registered teachers do not apply for a blue card and should instead apply for an exemption card under this category if they are providing child-related services which are outside of their professional duties. Read more about applying for an exemption card (PDF, 231KB).
Find out more about the application process for disability service providers (PDF, 287KB)
If you are a state government employee there are specific application forms which can be obtained from your Department's HR or Screening area.
Examples of people who need a blue card...
- Paid employees providing health services to children at a children’s hospital
- Paid employees providing health services in the paediatrics ward of a general hospital
- Paid employees providing a health service at a place other than a child’s health facility or children’s ward that requires physical contact or where the person is alone with the child
- Paid employees providing counselling services that involve an internet or telephone help line to provide help to children to resolve personal problems or difficulties, or
- Paid employees providing support services for child victims or witnesses in connection with court or other legal proceedings.
Who doesn't need a blue card?
There are certain people who do not require a blue card under this category, including:
- Approved or registered teachers (if their employment is part of their duties for the school that employs them)
- Relatives of the child they are assisting in the care of
- Registered health practitioners, if the work they are doing relates to their function as a registered health practitioner
- An employee who is also a consumer at a child-related disability service where they are working
- Australian lawyers working in legal practice under the Legal Profession Act 2007, and
- People who are employed by a licensed care service (note - paid employees working with a licensed care service are screened under the Care of children under the Child Protection Act 1999 category).
Examples of people who don't need a blue card...
- Paid employees in child related health facilities who do not provide any services to children (e.g. administration staff, cleaners, maintenance workers), or
- Paid employees in general health facilities where patients may be children or adults.
If you require a blue or exemption card under this category you will need to complete and submit an application form.
Last Updated: 29 June, 2018
