Blue Cards
Blue Card (Working With children suitability card) information
All preservice educators who plan to work with children/students under the age of 18 in Queensland as a component of their program of preservice education must obtain a Blue Card. You must have a current Blue Card and a positive notice before beginning any placement or activity in a school, centre or training setting. 2009 New student Information sheet (DOC 754Kb).
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If you do not have a current card, please see the information below about the application process for Faculty of Education preservice educators.
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Preservice educators who have a current Blue Card, and applied for the card through a different agency (not USQ), need to show their card to faculty staff for registration, or send a certified, legal copy to faculty staff. They also need to submit an
Authorisation Form (PDF 140Kb) to the
Professional Experience Support office so that the Commission is aware they are to complete professional experience as a component of their program.
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If you are completing professional experience in a non-Queensland setting, you must meet the requirements of the relevant state or territory.
Requirements
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All preservice educators must complete the application process outlined below and consent to a police information check to confirm eligibility.
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If deemed ineligible" for a Blue Card, you will unable to undertake professional experience or professional context experience (PCE) placements in Queensland and thus, be unable to meet graduation requirements.
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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 more information phone the Blue Card Contact Centre on 1800 113 611 or visit http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/index.html
New applications
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Collect a form from the Professional Experience Support office or download this
Blue Card Application Form (PDF161KB).The application process can often take more than 8 weeks, so it is important that you apply for a card as soon as you can.
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Ensure that the form you are completing has a large S in the top corner. Students are asked NOT to use the form from the CCYP website. Complete Part B of the application form disclosing all relevant information. Provide the required proof of identity, as stated in Part C.
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The application will be processed by a staff member. If complete and correct, the application will be forwarded to the commission for processing.
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Ensure you keep a copy of your application for your records.
- Contact the commission after one month to check the progress of your application.
Please note: Blue card applications are only processed when students have an active course enrolment in the Faculty of Education.
Application renewals
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 must be lodged at least 30 days prior to the expiry of the card or this will delay placement for professional experience.
- About 16 weeks before expiry a student may receive a renewal notice and renewal application form. You can also collect this form from the Professional Experience Support office or download the Blue Card Renewal Form (PDF 218KB). You should submit your renewal as soon as possible to ensure it is processed in sufficient time.
- Please ensure that the form you are completing has a large S in the top corner. Students are asked NOT to use the form from the CCYP website.
- Complete Part B of the application form and provide the required proof of identity (as stated in Part C).
- Take the completed application form and the original proof of identity documents to the Professional Experience Support office on your campus of study.
- The application will be processed by a staff member. If complete and correct the application will be forwarded to the commission for processing.
- Ensure you keep a copy of your application for your records.
- Contact the commission after one month to check the progress of your application
Application procedure for students living away from campus
You are considered "away from campus" if you live more than 50kms from your campus of enrolment. Only students who live outside of the 50km radius should complete an application where documents are sighted and Part E filled out and signed by a Justice of the Peace. All others must bring the filled form and ID documents to the relevant campus for sighting and processing.
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Follow steps 1 and 2 of the Application Procedure. If you cannot download the
Blue Card Application Form (PDF161KB)., telephone Professional Experience Support on +61 7 4631 2359 to receive one by mail.
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Take the completed application form and the original proof of identity documents to a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, lawyer or police officer to sight your proof of identity and sign Part E.Send the completed form to: Professional Experience Support office, Faculty of Education, USQ, TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350. This will be forwarded to the commission for processing.
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Follow steps 5 and 6 of the Application Procedure (above)
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Students employed by TAFE and completing professional experience at that site are covered by their criminal check for their employment. You must provide proof of employment at your TAFE site to the Professional Experience Support Office.
Additional information for international students studying on campus
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The application process should begin about six-to-eight weeks before you arrive on-campus. Forms received earlier than this cannot be processed.
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If you do not have a current Queensland address at the time of application, please put the address for the Faculty of Education at the campus where you intend to study, and update it when you have a Queensland residential address. Please do not put your international address in the Current Address box.
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