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  1. Home
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  3. Local government employees

Local government employees

I will be working in a local government position that provides services mainly directed towards children. Will I need a blue card?

The blue card system regulates services or activities that are directed to, or mainly involve, children. Any local government employee carrying out work which is captured by the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 will require a blue card.

Local government employees may be captured under one or more categories of regulated employment. Read more about the regulated employment categories and relevant exemptions.

Please note that if you are a police officer or registered teacher performing work outside of your professional duties, you do not require a blue card but should apply for an exemption notice. Find out more about the application process for exemption cards (PDF, 399KB).

For detailed information about when a blue card is required, please refer to your HR department or contact Blue Card Services.

The following table should be used as a guide only.

What type of work? Do I need a blue card?

Health, counselling or support services staff

Examples:

  • youth workers
  • youth development officers
  • counsellor, mentors or support staff
  • child or youth social workers
  • substance or alcohol abuse program workers
  • youth engagement staff
  • youth safety staff

 

A local government employee may require a blue card if

  • they provide health, counselling or support services to children or young people, or
  • they provide leadership to youths in local government programs (such as a youth worker or team leader).

A local government employee is unlikely to require a blue card if

  • they only provide health, counselling or support services to adults, or
  • they provide counselling or support services to adults about children, but have no actual contact with children (for example, a social worker discussing parenting issues).

Check the 'Health, counselling and support services' category of regulated employment for more information.

Please note - registered health practitioners do not require a blue card if they are providing services related to their role as a health professional.

Sport and recreation staff

Examples:

  • fitness/ aquatic centre staff
  • swimming instructors
  • activity coordinators
  • trainers or coaches
  • kiosk staff at pools or recreation centres/ grounds
  • lifeguards
  • groundskeepers

A local government employee may require a blue card if

  • they provide services to, or conduct activities mainly involving children or young people. For example, running youth events, swimming or fitness sessions for children, running school holiday programs, supervising a cooking class or running reading sessions for children.

A local government employee is unlikely to require a blue card if

  • they coordinate fitness or sport programs for adults
  • they are a groundskeeper who looks after local sporting ovals or centres, or
  • they are customer service officer who provides general services to the community at large (even if they only occasionally come into contact with children).

Check the 'Sport and active recreation' category of regulated employment for more information.

Administrative staff

Examples:

  • receptionist
  • administration officer
  • policy officer
  • business services officer

A local government employee is unlikely to require a blue card if

  • they do not provide services to, or conduct activities mainly involving children or young people

The examples provided would not generally require a blue card as any contact with children is incidental in nature.

Even if a person occasionally provide directions or other services, or come into contact with children, they will not require a blue card unless the activities are regulated by the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000.

 

 

Last Updated: 28 February, 2017

Can't find what you're looking for?

  • Visit our General FAQs page or Exemption card FAQs page
  • Have a look at our information sheets and flow charts, or
  • Check the specific categories of regulated employment and business for paid employees, volunteers & students and business operators for more information and specific examples of who does or doesn't need a blue card.

Still no luck?

Please call Blue Card Services on 1800 113 611 or 3211 6999 between 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

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