CCYPCG home / The blue card system / Foster & kinship care / Foster & kinship carers and licensed care service providers
Foster & kinship carers and licensed care service providers
Who needs a blue card?
This section 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 Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services - 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.
Please note that 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 services which are outside of their professional duties. Please click here (PDF - 174KB) for more information.
Who doesn't need a blue card?
Certain people are exempt and do not require a blue card, including:
- Registered health practitioners, if the work they are doing relates to their function as a registered health practitioner.
Click here if you need to apply for a blue card.
Last updated: 21 June, 2012
Important things to remember
Foster and kinship carers are initially screened through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Central Screening Unit. For initial enquiries please contact the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services on 3239 3521 or go to www.childsafety.qld.gov.au.
Certain people are prohibited from applying for or renewing a blue card. Please click here for more information about disqualified persons.
Blue cards are valid for three years.
Exemption cards have no expiry date and remain valid as long as the person remains a police officer or registered teacher.
The prescribed application fee for business operators and paid employees is $73.45
There is no application fee for volunteers and trainee students.
Business operators, volunteers and trainee students must not commence providing child-related activities until they hold a valid blue card or exemption card.
A paid employee can commence regulated child-related work once their application is lodged with the Commission.
Police officers and registered teachers do not apply for blue cards and in certain circumstances may need to apply for an exemption card. Please click here for the relevant exemption card application forms.