Working with children check (Blue Card)

If you already hold a valid Blue Card that is linked to another organisation, you will also need to link it to UQ. To do this, please enter your existing Blue Card number into InPlace:

The HMBS Placement Ready Team will then be able to link your card to UQ and there is nothing more for you to do.

Application time: Once linked to UQ at least 5 days.  Can take longer if further investigation is needed.

Cost: $0 (students are classed as volunteers)

You will receive a reminder from Blue Card Services when your card is going to expire.  Do not ignore this reminder.  It is your responsibility to hold a valid Blue Card as relevant to your placement.  You must submit your Blue Card renewal before your current card expires to be able to undertake or continue placement activity under the No Card, No Start law.  Blue Card renewals should be completed online.

Step 1:

You will need a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) customer reference number (CRN) in order to prove your identity to Blue Card Services and to renew your card online.

You may already have a TMR customer reference number

Do you already have a TMR customer reference number (CRN)?  Your customer reference number is shown on a range of TMR products including a Queensland driver’s license or proof of age card.  You can find your customer reference number in the top right area on the front of your card.

Example:

Don’t already have a TMR customer reference number?

If you don’t already have a Queensland TMR customer reference number, you will need to obtain one before you can progress your Blue Card renewal.

To obtain a TMR customer reference number, check which identity and Queensland residential address documents you will need, then take these documents to a TMR centre in person and request a customer reference number.  Let the staff take your photo and wait for the letter/email confirming your CRN and keep it in a safe place.

Step 2:

Once you have your CRN, you will need it to register for a Blue Card Services online account before you can renew your Blue Card. You only need to register once. You can register here for a Blue Card Services online account.

Step 3:

As you will already be linked to UQ, you can log in to the Blue Card applicant portal to renew your Blue Card online. 

Once Blue Card Services have renewed your Blue Card, you will receive a Positive Notice via email and your new Blue Card will be mailed to your nominated address.  UQ will also be notified that your card has been renewed so there is nothing further for you to do.

Your placement provider may ask to see your Blue Card at any time, so you should carry it with you at all times while on placement.

To help ensure the safety of children and young people in Queensland, the blue card system stops certain people from holding or applying for a blue card such as:

• People convicted of disqualifying offences
• Current negative notice holders
• People convicted of serious offences as they can only hold a blue card in exceptional circumstances.

If you are a disqualified person, it is an offence to apply for a Blue Card and penalties may apply. If the outcome of your Blue Card application is a Negative Notice, you cannot:

• apply for, start, or continue in child-related work (paid or voluntary)
• carry on a child-related business regulated by the blue card system.

The HMBS Placement Ready team will be notified of your Negative Notice status and will contact your School immediately to have you excluded/removed from any child-related placements.

Your Blue Card InPlace record will be marked as rejected and appear red in colour with verification comments confirming the status of your Blue Card application.

You are entitled to make a submission to Blue Card services to explain your side of the story in relation to police or disciplinary information that might preclude you from holding a Blue Card. Your submission should demonstrate how your behaviour has changed since the offence occured. You might want to include written references from employers, colleagues or health professionals who know about your past, or other relevant material.

Important: If you are a disqualified person or you receive a Negative Blue Card Notice, you should notify your School immediately. 

This information is relevant for students in post graduate programs of study, where the student must be an AHPRA registered health practitioner in the profession they are undertaking further education.  

You don’t need a blue card if you are a registered health practitioner and you are working with children within your professional capacity. So, for example, as a psychologist, physiotherapist or dentist, you do not need a blue card. You will only need a blue card if you do other work (outside your professional capacity) with children.

Specific explanatory note regarding Psychology

The Psychology Board of Australia does not register students. Students enrolled in an approved program of study that leads to registration with the Psychology Board of Australia need to apply for provisional registration. Therefore, If a student is enrolled in a postgraduate program of study that leads to registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, then it is not possible or necessary for them to be registered as a student with AHPRA.  Instead they are registered as a provisional psychologist which meets the Blue Card Services definition of a registered health practitioner:  “A registered health practitioner is a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, other than as a student”.

If you would like any further information about the Queensland Working with Children Check you can refer to the Blue Card Services website or Blue Card Resources for Individuals.