Blue Card
The Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian requires people who work with children (under 18 years of age) in particular categories of paid or voluntary employment or carrying on particular businesses to undergo screening through the 'Working with Children Check'. If a person is eligible to work with children then they will receive a positive notice and a Blue Card.
A Blue Card is a legal requirement for Professional Experience in Queensland with USQ.
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How to apply for a Blue Card
- Download the USQ Student Blue Card Application Form (PDF 237 KB) and complete Sections A & C. Print clearly and legibly with your full legal name or the application will not be processed.
International students who do not have a current Queensland address at the time of application, use the address for the Faculty of Education at the campus where you intend to study, but update your details with USQ and the Commission when you have a Queensland residential address. Do not enter your international address in the current address box.
- Lodge your form in person at any USQ campus where Professional Experience Office staff will complete sections B, D and E. Ensure you have the appropriate forms of identification as specified by the Commission so that your identity can be verified. You must have two original identification documents. One of these documents MUST be a signature document (see the application form for details).
If you are unable to visit a USQ campus and are unable to have your documents sighted by USQ, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian allows a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, lawyer or police officer to sight your identification documents and complete an Identification verification by a prescribed person form (PDF 239KB). Send your completed Identification verification by a prescribed person form and Student Blue Card application form to your nearest campus.
- USQ will then forward the completed form to the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian for processing.
- Successful Blue Card applicants will receive their Blue Card and Positive Notice by Australia Post. It is essential to keep your address details current. You must produce your Blue Card and the Positive Notice on your first day of Professional Experience and carry them with you while you are in the school or site.
Legal obligations are your responsibility and it is essential that you do not delay your application. All applications for Blue Cards should be submitted when you are accepted into all programs offered by the Faculty of Education. The screening process can take over 12 weeks to process due to the large number of applications received by the Commission.
Further information on how to apply is available from the Commission.
Disqualified persons
Certain people are disqualified up front from applying for a Blue Card. It is an offence for a 'disqualified person' to apply for a Blue Card. Penalties of up to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to $37,500 may apply if a 'disqualified person' signs a Blue Card application form.
For information regarding disqualifying offences, please telephone the Blue Card Contact Centre on 1800 113 611 or go to Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.
If you already have a Blue Card
It is a legal requirement for USQ to record the Blue Card information for current students. If you have a Blue Card issued through another organisation/provider and are now a current USQ student you are required to provide these details to the Commission and to The Professional Experience Office.
Complete the Authorisation to Confirm a Valid Blue Card Form (PDF 158 KB) and present it, along with your Blue Card and Student ID Card, to The Professional Experience Office on your campus.
If you are unable to visit a campus and are unable to have your documents sighted by USQ, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian allows a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, lawyer or police officer to sight your identification documents. Complete the Authorisation to Confirm a Valid Blue Card Form (PDF 158 KB) and the Identification verification by a prescribed person form (PDF 239KB) and send them to your nearest campus.
Blue Card renewal
You are responsible for ensuring that your Blue Card is current. Inform the Commission within 14 days if there are any changes to your details. Failure to provide this information is an offence.
A renewal application can be submitted up to 16 weeks before the expiry date and must be lodged no later than 6 weeks prior to the expiry of the card or this will delay placement for professional experience.
The Commission sends a renewal notice to your listed residential address approximately eight weeks before the expiry date.
- Download the USQ Student Blue Card Renewal Form (PDF 237 KB) and complete Sections A & C.
- Lodge your form in person at any USQ campus where the Professional Experience Office staff will complete Sections B, D and E. Ensure you have the appropriate forms of identification as specified by the Commission so that your identity can be verified. You must have two original identification documents. One of these documents MUST be a signature document (see the renewal form for details).
- If you are unable to visit a USQ campus and are unable to have your identification documents sighted by USQ, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian allows a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, lawyer or police officer to sight your identification documents and complete an Identification verification by a prescribed person form. Send your completed USQ Student Blue Card Renewal Form (PDF 237 KB) and the Identification verification by a prescribed person form (PDF 239KB) to your nearest campus.
- USQ will then forward the completed forms to the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian for processing.
- Your card will remain current even after the expiry date providing the card was not cancelled or suspended and the application for renewal was lodged at least 6 weeks prior to the expiry of your card.