All children have the right to be safe and protected from harm. Blue Card Services administers the Blue Card system – Queensland’s working with children check. Working with children checks provide a check of a person’s criminal history and is also an ongoing assessment of your eligibility to work with children while you are on placement.
Upon approval of your application , you will receive a Positive Notice and a Blue Card, granting you the authority to work with children during placements for a period of for 3 years. It is essential to note that if you are required to possess a valid Blue Card, it is unlawful to commence or continue your placement without one. The responsibility lies with you to maintain a valid Blue Card throughout your placement.
Your placement provider may request to inspect your Blue Card at any time, so it is advisable to always keep it with you during your placement.
How long will it take for my application to be processed?
Blue Card applications can take up to 4-8 weeks once a complete application is submitted to Blue Card Services. This can take longer if further investigation is needed by Blue Card Services. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the application timeframe, please contact Blue Card Services.
How much will a Blue Card cost?
As students are classed as volunteers, there is no fee to apply for a Blue Card. However, some employers require you to hold a paid Blue Card, if this is the case, please discuss this directly with your employer and then follow the instructions below on how to link an existing valid Blue Card to The University of Queensland.
What do I need to do?
If you don’t already have a Blue Card you will need to apply for one as long as you are not a disqualified person. Attempting to obtain a Blue Card while being a disqualified individual constitutes an offense, and legal penalties may be consequently imposed.
If you have an existing valid Blue Card you will need to request that the Faculty of Medicine team to link it to the University before commencing your program or course. Please email med.placements@uq.edu.au with a scanned copy of your current card.
If your card is due to expire, you will need to renew it before it expires.
Applications should be completed online unless you are an international offshore student (please refer to further information below).
Please see the QLD government website for videos on how to navigate the Blue Card system to complete your application as detailed in the steps below.
Working with children check (Blue Card) for students residing in QLD
Apply for a Blue Card
Step 1: Obtain a CRN Number
You will need a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) customer reference number (CRN) to prove your identity to Blue Card Services.
You can find your customer reference number in the top right area on the front of a range of TMR products including a Queensland driver’s license or proof of age card.
If you don’t already have a Queensland TMR customer reference number, you will need to obtain one before you can progress your Blue Card application. To obtain a TMR customer reference number, check which identity and Queensland residential address documents you will need, then take these documents to a TMR centre in person and request a customer reference number.
Step 2: Register for a Blue Card Account
Once you have your CRN, you will need it to register for a Blue Card Services online account before you can apply for your Blue Card. You only need to register once. You can register here for a Blue Card Services online account. Take note of your Blue Card account number when you register for your account. If asked, ensure you enter The University of Queensland as your institution.
Step 3: Link Your Account
Once you have received your Blue Card account number, please submit this to the relevant attribute in Placements system we will need this to link you to UQ.
Step 4: Complete Blue Card Application
Once you have been notified by Blue Card Services that you have been linked to UQ, you need to log in to the Blue Card applicant portal and complete your application to apply for a Blue Card.
Step 5: Application Approved
Once Blue Card Services have approved your application, you should receive a ‘Blue Card Application Approved’ notification via email and your new Blue Card will be mailed to your nominated address. UQ will also be notified that your card has been approved so there is nothing further for you to do.
Link existing Blue Card
If you already hold a valid Blue Card that is already associated with another organisation, it is necessary to link it to The University of Queensland. Please provide your existing Blue Card number to the designated attribute in the Placements system (refer to instructions above). This step is essential for our team to facilitate the linkage of your card to UQ, and once completed, there is no further actions required on your part.
Renew your Blue Card
You will receive a reminder from Blue Card Services when your card is going to expire. Do not ignore this reminder.
It is your responsibility to maintain a valid Blue Card. We recommend submitting your renewal at least 1 month prior to the expiry of your existing card. To ensure uninterrupted participation in placement activities and adhere to the No Card, No Start law, it is imperative to submit your Blue Card renewal on time. Blue Card renewals should be completed online for your convenience and efficiency.
You will need to follow steps 1 to 3 as above if you do not already have CRN number or Blue Card account number. If you have previously been linked by the Faculty of Medicine, you can proceed to log in to the Blue Card applicant portal to renew your Blue Card online.
Once Blue Card Services have renewed your Blue Card, you will receive a Positive Notice via email and your new Blue Card will be mailed to your nominated address. UQ will also be notified that your card has been renewed so there is nothing further for you to do.
Disqualified persons and Negative Blue Card Notices
To help ensure the safety of children and young people in Queensland, the blue card system stops certain people from holding or applying for a blue card such as:
- People convicted of disqualifying offences
- Current negative notice holders
- People convicted of serious offences as they can only hold a blue card in exceptional circumstances.
Attempting to obtain a Blue Card while being a disqualified individual constitutes an offense, and legal penalties may be consequently imposed. If the outcome of your Blue Card application is a Negative Notice, you cannot:
- apply for, start, or continue in child-related work (paid or voluntary)
- carry on a child-related business regulated by the blue card system.
The Faculty of Medicine team will be notified of your Negative Notice status and will be required to exclude/remove you from any child-related placements.
You are entitled to make a submission to Blue Card services to explain your side of the story in relation to police or disciplinary information that might preclude you from holding a Blue Card. Your submission should demonstrate how your behaviour has changed since the offence occurred. You might want to include written references from employers, colleagues or health professionals who know about your past, or other relevant material.
AHPRA registered students
This information is relevant for students in post graduate programs of study, where the student must be an AHPRA registered health practitioner in the profession they are undertaking further education.
You do not need a blue card if you are a registered health practitioner and you are working with children within your professional capacity. So, for example, as a Doctor you do not require a Blue Card. You will only need to apply or hold a blue card if you do other work (outside your professional capacity) with children.
Working with children check (Blue Card) for interstate or offshore international students
To verify your identity with Blue Card Services, you will be required to provide a Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) customer reference number (CRN). This CRN is a crucial element in the identification process. The easiest and quickest way to obtain a CRN is to follow the process outlined under ‘Working with children check (Blue Card) for students residing in QLD’ and visit a TMR customer service centre in Queensland where TMR will take your photo and give you a CRN while you wait. However, if you are offshore and unable to return to Brisbane at this time, you can apply for a CRN using a ‘Remote Applicants’ pack by please following the steps below.
Apply for a Customer Reference Number (CRN) via a remote pack
Step 1: Prepare your application
To obtain your CRN offshore you will need to complete the following documentation:
- New Customer/Photo and Signature Remote Application (Form F5342)
- Specimen Signature Form (F2127)
- Evidence of Identity (EOI): Photocopy 3 x Evidence of Identity (EOI) documents. Your EOI documents might comprise of a foreign passport + temporary visa + student identity document (Australian Universities only OR bank card). Must be signed in the presence of an approved witness
- 2 x identical colour 35mm (W) x 45mm (L) photographs must be provided. One photograph must be signed on the reverse side by an approved witness with the words: "I certify this is a true photograph of (the applicant) in my presence."
We strongly recommend that you closely follow the instructions provided in the ‘Getting a Customer Reference Number’ resource to complete your application.
Step 2: Document witnessing
Many of your documents will need to be signed in the presence of an approved witness. An approved witness is a:
- police officer
- medical practitioner
- consular or ambassadorial officer
- solicitor, barrister or judge
- Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner for Declarations
- Notary Public or a person authorised by law to witness and sign declarations.
It is important that you take note of the approved witness requirements outlined above.
Step 3: Send application to QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads
Step 4: Receive Customer Reference Number (CRN)
TMR will process your application and send your CRN to the email address you supplied on the New Customer Application form.
Once you have received your CRN, you can then apply for a blue card as per the steps below.
Step 5: Register for a Blue Card Account
Once you have your CRN, you will need it to register for a Blue Card Services online account before you can apply for your Blue Card. You only need to register once. You can register here for a Blue Card Services online account. Take note of your Blue Card account number when you register for your account. If asked, ensure you enter The University of Queensland as your institution.
Offshore International Students can use the Faculty of Medicine address as below, to register for a Blue Card Services online account:
Step 6: Link Your Account
Once you have received your Blue Card account number, please submit this to the designated attribute in the Placements system (refer to instructions above) This step is essential for our team to facilitate the linkage of your card UQ.
Step 7: Complete Blue Card Application
Once you have been notified by Blue Card Services that you have been linked to UQ, you need to log in to the Blue Card applicant portal and complete your application to apply for a Blue Card.
Step 8: Application Approved
Once Blue Card Services have approved your application, you should receive a ‘Blue Card Application Approved’ notification via email and your new Blue Card will be mailed to your nominated address. UQ will also be notified that your card has been approved so there is nothing further for you to do.
Renew your Blue Card
You will receive a reminder from Blue Card Services when your card is going to expire. Do not ignore this reminder.
It is your responsibility to maintain hold a valid Blue Card as relevant to your placement. We recommend submitting your renewal at least 1 month prior to the expiry of your existing card. To ensure uninterrupted participation in placement activities and adhere to You must submit your Blue Card renewal before your current card expires to be able to undertake or continue placement activity under the No Card, No Start law, it is imperative to submit your Blue Card renewal on time. Blue Card renewals should be completed online for your convenience and efficiency.
You will need to follow steps 1 to 4 as above if you do not already have CRN number or Blue Card account number. If you have previously been linked by the Faculty of Medicine, you can proceed to log in to the Blue Card applicant portal to renew your Blue Card online.
Once your Blue Card has been renewed, you will receive a Positive Notice via email and your new Blue Card will be dispatched to the address you have specified. The University of Queensland will be notified when your application has been officially approved. There is no additional action required on your part.