Blue Card
Encyclopedia
In Queensland
, the Blue Card is another term for the Working with Children Check which is undertaken by the Commission for Children and Young People. The term blue card also refers to a card required by construction workers in Queensland. Additionally there are other Working with Children Checks in other states of Australia.
a Blue Card is a type of identification card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian after a complete national criminal history check (the "Working with Children Check"). This criminal history check includes both charges (even where a not guilty verdict has been reached) and convictions in all states of Australia. According to the Blue Card website (see link below) the Commission also has authority to look at disciplinary information from other professional boards, as well as police investigative information.
The Blue Card exists so that children and teenagers under 18 years can experience safer environments where they come under the control or influence of adults who are not their parents. In particular, the Blue Card system seems to address high trust and/or high risk environments.
The Blue Card only represents a criminal history check. The law surrounding the Blue Card does not look into other aspects of work involving children. Importantly, it does not indicate that a person is experienced, skilled, or even psychologically capable of participating in child-related work.
According to news media based on statistics from Queensland Parliament, around one in six Queenslanders have applied for a Blue Card at some point. Any person wanting to enter a Childcare
Centre, while there are children present, must hold a Blue Card. Health Care workers need Blue Cards to work at schools. As of 2006, all foster parents or kinship carers through the Queensland Department of Child Safety require a Blue Card.
If the person applying for the Blue Card receives a Positive Notice it means that they are able to work with children. This notice is accompanied by the actual Blue Card. The majority of people who request a Blue Card receive this notice.
A Negative Notice means that the applicant has unproven charges (or convictions) on their criminal history that indicate they are unsuitable for work with children. After being issued with a Negative Notice a person cannot work with children if a Blue Card is required. In the course of ensuring justice, where a person has a questionable criminal history, the Commissioner will ask them to submit their side of the story. This must then be taken into consideration before a Positive or Negative Notice can be issued.
If a person applies for a Blue Card but doesn't need one, or if they fall into an exception under law, then they receive a No Screening Notice. This means that they cannot receive a Blue Card because the law only allows the Commissioner to conduct criminal history checks on people who work in areas where a Blue Card is required. This law is in place so that the Commission cannot conduct criminal history checks on everyone and anyone at will.
Other people who cannot have their criminal history screened under the Blue Card legislation include Aged Care or Disability
workers who do not work with minors, even if the disability in question lowers the mental age of that person. Approved teachers are not required to hold a blue card when undertaking the duties of a teacher in a school. Criminal history checks remain a requirement as part of the five-yearly renewal of teacher registration process. Although approved teachers do not need a blue card for their work in schools, they may need it for other child-related work, whether paid or voluntary.
Registered teachers who wish to participate in other child-related activities, either as a paid employee or as a volunteer, are still required to obtain a " Blue Card" from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. Registered teachers teaching in community kindergartens are also still required to hold a "Blue Card".
Preservice teacher education students are required to hold a blue card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian before they are able to undertake practical experience in Queensland schools and other educational settings.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, the Blue Card is another term for the Working with Children Check which is undertaken by the Commission for Children and Young People. The term blue card also refers to a card required by construction workers in Queensland. Additionally there are other Working with Children Checks in other states of Australia.
Purpose
In Queensland, AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
a Blue Card is a type of identification card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian after a complete national criminal history check (the "Working with Children Check"). This criminal history check includes both charges (even where a not guilty verdict has been reached) and convictions in all states of Australia. According to the Blue Card website (see link below) the Commission also has authority to look at disciplinary information from other professional boards, as well as police investigative information.
The Blue Card exists so that children and teenagers under 18 years can experience safer environments where they come under the control or influence of adults who are not their parents. In particular, the Blue Card system seems to address high trust and/or high risk environments.
The Blue Card only represents a criminal history check. The law surrounding the Blue Card does not look into other aspects of work involving children. Importantly, it does not indicate that a person is experienced, skilled, or even psychologically capable of participating in child-related work.
Usage
A Blue Card can be required for a person working or volunteering in situations where they may come into contact with children on a regular basis, even if it is just by phone. Whether or not someone needs a Blue Card depends whether that type of work is regulated under the Blue Card legislation. This includes but is certainly not limited to people like driving instructors, teacher aides, natural therapists, lifeguards, and babysitters.According to news media based on statistics from Queensland Parliament, around one in six Queenslanders have applied for a Blue Card at some point. Any person wanting to enter a Childcare
Childcare
Child care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
Centre, while there are children present, must hold a Blue Card. Health Care workers need Blue Cards to work at schools. As of 2006, all foster parents or kinship carers through the Queensland Department of Child Safety require a Blue Card.
Application
There are three possible outcomes from The Working With Children Check: a Positive Notice, a Negative Notice, or a No Screening Notice.If the person applying for the Blue Card receives a Positive Notice it means that they are able to work with children. This notice is accompanied by the actual Blue Card. The majority of people who request a Blue Card receive this notice.
A Negative Notice means that the applicant has unproven charges (or convictions) on their criminal history that indicate they are unsuitable for work with children. After being issued with a Negative Notice a person cannot work with children if a Blue Card is required. In the course of ensuring justice, where a person has a questionable criminal history, the Commissioner will ask them to submit their side of the story. This must then be taken into consideration before a Positive or Negative Notice can be issued.
If a person applies for a Blue Card but doesn't need one, or if they fall into an exception under law, then they receive a No Screening Notice. This means that they cannot receive a Blue Card because the law only allows the Commissioner to conduct criminal history checks on people who work in areas where a Blue Card is required. This law is in place so that the Commission cannot conduct criminal history checks on everyone and anyone at will.
Other people who cannot have their criminal history screened under the Blue Card legislation include Aged Care or Disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
workers who do not work with minors, even if the disability in question lowers the mental age of that person. Approved teachers are not required to hold a blue card when undertaking the duties of a teacher in a school. Criminal history checks remain a requirement as part of the five-yearly renewal of teacher registration process. Although approved teachers do not need a blue card for their work in schools, they may need it for other child-related work, whether paid or voluntary.
Registered teachers who wish to participate in other child-related activities, either as a paid employee or as a volunteer, are still required to obtain a " Blue Card" from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian. Registered teachers teaching in community kindergartens are also still required to hold a "Blue Card".
Preservice teacher education students are required to hold a blue card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian before they are able to undertake practical experience in Queensland schools and other educational settings.