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Running a child-related business

To carry on or operate a business regulated by the blue card system you must hold a blue or exemption card.

You will also need a blue or exemption card if you are an executive officer of a corporation that operates a business regulated by one of the categories on this page and you live in Australia.

If your business receives state or federal funding, you may have an agreement that requires you to comply with working with children legislation. It is important you check the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 to determine if certain roles in your organisation are regulated and need a blue or exemption card.

If you are unsure whether you need a card, please contact us.

Categories of regulated business

The categories of regulated business under the Act are:

This list does not include all situations where you may need a blue or exemption card. If your business does not fit one category, it may fit another.

Child accommodation services, including homestays

You will need a blue card if:

  • the usual activities of your business include providing a child accommodation service in your home, including a homestay service
  • you run a business that employs volunteers to provide child accommodation
  • you run a homestay service for students.

Under this category you do not need a blue card if the activities happen at a boarding school or residential facility, or another place where a child accommodation service is provided under funding by the Australian Government or the Queensland Department of Education.

Childcare services

You will need a blue card if:

  • the usual activities of your business include providing childcare on a commercial basis; or
  • carrying out activities in a place or vehicle where childcare is being provided

Examples

A blue card is needed for a:

  • person starting their own business to provide babysitting, nanny services or au pair services to children
  • business owner of a cleaning business contracted to clean the hotel kid's club facilities.

Disability work

You will need a blue card if your business provides disability services or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports or services to a child with disability.

Education and care services

You will need a blue card if:

  • You need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include operating an education and care service, or another service that provides education and care   to children
  • the usual activities of your business include carrying out activities in a place where children are being educated and cared for.

Under this category you don’t need a blue card if the activities are conducted outside the operation hours of the education and care service when children are not present.

Examples

A blue card is needed if you own or operate:

  • a family day care scheme
  • childcare centre
  • kindergarten
  • outside school hours care service
  • or vacation holiday program for children
  • bus company operated by a childcare centre
  • trades business which regularly enters a childcare or outside hours school care service during the hours of operation

Educational programs conducted outside of school

You will need a blue card if your business includes—or is likely to include—providing services under sections 182, 183, 286 (2), 291 or 304 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006. This includes business operators that provide educational programs for students who can’t attend regular school, for example suspended or excluded students, or students who have special schooling arrangements.

Under this category you don’t need a blue card if the business you operate is a:

  • state school
  • non-state school
  • registered higher education provider
  • registered training organisation.

Limited people need a blue card under this category. If you are a business operator and unsure whether this applies to you contact us.

Health, counselling and support services

You will need a blue card if:

  • your business provides a health service that requires physical contact with a child, or that is provided while nobody else is physically present
  • your business provides a counselling service or support service if you are physically present with a child while nobody else is physically present, or if you are not physically present with a child,

You don't need a blue card under this category if the business you operate is a licensed care service. A licensed care service provides care for children who are under the care of the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services.

Examples

A blue card is needed if you own or operate a:

  • mental health youth program
  • online counselling for children or young people.

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Hostels for children (other than a residential facility)

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include operating a service where a child accommodation service is provided under funding by the Australian Government or the Queensland Department of Education. For example, a person who provides accommodation for school-age students while they attend school, when that accommodation is not a boarding school or residential facility.

Limited people need a blue card under this category. Contact us if you are unsure whether this applies to you.

Justice and detention services

You need a blue card if you own or operate a business that provides services within a youth detention centre, or you own or operate a business that supervises or monitors children under court orders   under the Youth Justice Act 1992.

Similarly, you need a blue card if you are paid or volunteer to work in a youth detention centre, or your employment or volunteer work includes supervising or monitoring a child under any of these orders imposed by a Court under the Youth Justice Act 1992:

  • community-based order
  • supervised release order
  • any other order made or imposed by a court under that Act.

Licensed care services under the Child Protection Act 1999

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include, or are likely to include:

A risk-assessed role is defined in section 123A of the Child Protection Act 1999. Read more about what a risk-assessed role is in table 2 of the Suitability and screening requirements for child safety licensed care services guide or download licensing resources.

Examples

A blue card is needed if you own or operate a

  • business that operates inside a licensed care facility.

Non-state schools—directors of governing bodies and authorised persons

You will need a blue card if you are:

  • a director of a non-state school or part of the governing body of an accredited non-state school
  • an authorised person under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017.

Private teaching, coaching or tutoring

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include teaching, coaching or tutoring children on a commercial basis. For example:

  • a self-employed driving instructor who offers lessons to children
  • a self-employed personal trainer who coaches children
  • a person who runs their own business privately tutoring children.

Under this category, you don't need a blue or exemption card if you are conducting private teaching, coaching or tutoring through an education provider, including a registered training organisation.

Religious representatives

You will need a blue card if you are a religious representative and the usual activities of your business include providing services to or conducting activities with children.

Examples

A blue card is needed if you are:

  • a religious leader such as a priest, chaplain, imam, minister or rabbi whose role includes—or may include—providing religious instruction to children or conducting activities as a religious representative
  • in charge of your religious organisation and the organisation runs children’s activities, for example if you are a youth leader who runs children’s worship groups and Sunday school activities
  • an operator of a business promoting spiritual beliefs and guidance to children, even if you don’t consider yourself to be part of an organised religion.

Sport and active recreation

You will need a blue card if the usual activities of your business include running sport or active recreation activities for children.

Examples

A blue card is needed if you own or operate a  business that provides:

  • recreational camps
  • themed birthday parties, for example hosts or operators of paintball, rock climbing, soccer or skating
  • jumping castles or other rides, for example supervisors or attendants who assist children
  • casual indoor netball, squash or cricket centres
  • children’s discos
  • indoor play centres, for example trampoline or laser tag
  • young children motor skills groups
  • re-enactment groups, for example medieval sword fighting practice
  • children’s fitness programs
  • independent industry providers, for example karate, martial arts or horse riding.

Under this category you don't need a blue card if the activities are conducted by a church, club or association, or if the business is an amusement park.

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Last updated:
4 February 2022
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