Care of children under Child Protection Act 1999
Who needs a blue card?
This category applies to people who are providing approved foster or kinship care (other than provisionally approved carers), or who are an ‘adult member’ of a house in which foster or kinship care is being provided.
Under the Child Protection Act 1999 an ‘adult member’ is defined as:
- an adult who lives in the carer's or applicant's home; and
- an adult who, because of the nature of their contact with the child in need of protection and the context in which that contact happens, may create an unacceptable level of risk to the child; but
- does not include a parent of the child living in the carer’s home if the child was placed in the care of the carer under the Child Protection Act 1999 section 82(1).
For more information about adult members of a house in which foster or kinship care is being provided, please contact the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women - Child Safety Services, Central Screening Unit on 3239 3521.
Volunteers and trainee students also need a blue card if their work:
- is carried out, or is likely to be carried out, inside a licensed residential facility, or
- includes, or is likely to include, providing support for an approved carer in their capacity as an employee of a licensed care service, or
- involves directly managing a licensed care service, or
- involves providing care to a child as part of a licensed care service.
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.
Who doesn't need a blue card?
There are certain people who do not require a blue card under this category, including:
- Registered health practitioners, if the work they are doing relates to their function as a registered health practitioner.
If you require a blue or exemption card under this category you will need to complete and submit an application form.
Last Updated: 11 April, 2018
