Blue Card Services (BCS) administers the blue card system—Queensland’s Working with Children Check—which regulates activities essential to children’s lives. These include childcare, education, sport, entertainment, cultural activities and foster care.
We screen and monitor people who work with children and young people in Queensland. We also:
educate the community about who needs a blue card and how to meet legislative requirements and obligations
support organisations to understand and meet their employer obligations.
Visit the Blue Card Services website to learn about the services we offer and who needs a blue card when working with children.
Operational teams
BCS comprises the following operational teams.
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Community Information
The Community Information team provides a range of services and resources to raise awareness about the scope and role of the blue card system. Their work supports individuals and organisations to understand who needs a blue card to work with children and young people, and to build capacity for compliance with the system.
The team develops and delivers information sessions, workshops, and written advice to external stakeholders. They also maintain online content, including the Blue Card Services website, YouTube videos, and other resources, to help users better understand and access the blue card system.
Additionally, the team includes the Client Services function, which responds to public enquiries via the contact centre and email.
Compliance
The Compliance team monitors and audits individual and service providers’ compliance with their blue card system obligations to ensure appropriate safeguards for children and young people are being implemented and maintained. The focus is on educating and building the capacity of organisations and individuals to provide safer service environments for children.
The team also acts in response to information received from the public or from internal sources such as the Eligibility Assessment and Community Information teams when blue card compliance issues are identified.
Where the Compliance team suspects or identifies a serious breach which requires immediate escalation or an educative approach is inappropriate, the matter is formally referred to the QPS for investigation and possible prosecution.
Queensland Worker Screening Program
Following successful implementation of the co-administration model of the working with children and disability worker screening systems, the program team is exploring opportunities to harmonise business processes, streamline and implement changes to achieve business efficiencies.
Co-administration is a single agency (Queensland Worker Screening Services) administering both the working with children and disability worker screening systems, maintaining separate decision-making frameworks and continuing to issue standalone products to ensure existing safeguards are maintained.
Aged Care Worker Screening
Following review by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) committed to delivering an aged care worker screening check that aligns with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Disability Worker Screening) system.
Queensland Worker Screening Services are working with the Commonwealth to undertake exploratory preparatory activities associated with the proposed aged care screening check for consideration by the Queensland Government.
Eligibility Assessment
The Eligibility Assessment team assesses Working With Children Check applications to determine whether an applicant is eligible to hold a blue card.
Eligibility is based on a national criminal history check and other ‘relevant information’. This may include disciplinary records, domestic violence information, adverse decisions by interstate agencies, and child protection or other information relevant to working with children.
The team also receives and actions notifications from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) about changes to a blue card holders criminal history. They also action other ‘relevant information’ that is identified during the course of a blue card holders clearance that may impact a person’s continued eligibility to continue to hold a blue card.
The team includes community engagement officers—including First Nations staff—who take submissions over the phone or in person and visit remote and regional communities to help and support. The First Nations officers also provide a cultural lens to assist in the decision-making process. The application of a cultural lens recognises the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which have resulted in adverse outcomes and particular cultural sensitivities which may be relevant.
The Processing team is responsible for processing blue card applications including supporting applicants with using the Online Applicant Portal, identity requirements and other administrative issues that may arise during the application process. The team also provides direct support to employers using the BCS Organisation Portal to manage their blue card obligations.
Technology Services is comprised of two teams, Business Application Support, and Digital Reform.
The Business Applications Support team provides governance, maintenance and support services for BCS business applications and other information and communication technology applications. The team also provides advice on how business units can best utilise the full capability of business applications already in place and recommend enhancements, where appropriate, to meet emerging needs and requirements.
The Digital Reform team is responsible for developing and implementing enhancements to current and future ICT systems and services.
