Blue cards for young people
If you are a young person who will be working or volunteering with children, you may need a blue card.
When you don’t need a blue card
If you are under the age of 18 years you do not need a blue card to volunteer with children. However if you intend to continue to volunteer when you turn 18 you may need to apply for a blue card.
If you are a restricted person you cannot rely on the ‘volunteer under 18 years’ exemption.
Examples
A blue card is not needed for:
- a 17-year-old who volunteers as the coach of their own school volleyball team
- a 13-year-old umpiring or coaching a sports team for their club and receives a small fee per game to cover out-of-pocket expenses
- a 15-year-old school student carrying out work experience within a childcare centre
- a 16-year-old volunteer refereeing with different sporting teams—who is not paid but receives money for petrol
- an 18-year-old school student attending their school
- an 18-year-old school student demonstrating their capability—as part of a Vocational Education Training (VET) course to their peers in a school environment.
When you do need a blue card
If you are under 18
If you are under 18 you'll need a blue card when you:
- are paid to work
- operate a business
- are a student enrolled in a tertiary course—including certificate courses conducted through a TAFE or university—and need to complete a practical placement.
Examples
A blue card is needed for:
- a 16-year-old student doing a school-based traineeship and a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. This student would apply through their education provider (school, TAFE etc) and under the Education and care services category
- a 15-year-old who is paid to provide babysitting services on the weekends. They would need to apply under the Child care services category.
- A 17-year-old who is paid to tutor younger student. They would need to apply under the private teaching, coaching or tutoring category.
Note: Students and trainees should apply for a blue card as soon as possible after enrolling in a course that will require them to hold a blue card to complete a practical placement.
If you are 18 or over
If you are 18 or over and engaged in child-related regulated work as a paid employee or volunteer, you will need a blue card.
Examples
A blue card is needed for:
- an 18-year-old student who is paid to teach the Grade 4 students to dance and sing for their school eisteddfod under the Schools category of regulated employment
- an 18-year-old student doing placement at a child care centre as part of a VET course under the education and care category
- an 18-year-old student who privately tutors students in the school library under the Private teaching, coaching or tutoring category.
- an 18-year-old boarding student receiving an allowance to be a Dorm Monitor—which is in addition to being a senior student—under the Schools—Boarding facilities category of employment.
How to apply for a blue card
Learn how to apply for a blue card.
If you are a volunteer under 18 and need a blue card, you can apply three months before you turn 18. If approved, the blue card will be issued on your 18th birthday.