CCYPCG home / The blue card system / education and care services and similar employment / When do I need to apply?

When do I need to apply?

You can apply for a blue card or exemption card when you have an agreement to work in a child related environment that is regulated by the Commission's Act.

Paid employees...

Paid employees can commence work in a child care centre once they have lodged a completed application with the Commission.

Please click here for more information.

Volunteers and trainee students...

Volunteers and trainee students must hold a valid blue card before they can commence volunteer work or a practical placement in a child care centre as part of their studies.

Please click here for more information.

Business operators

Business operators must hold a blue card before they can commence their child care business.

Please click here for more information.

Police officers and registered teachers only...

Exemption card holders can commence work in a child care centre once a completed application is lodged with the Commission.

Please click here (PDF, 174KB) for more information.

How long will it take?

As a guide, you should allow at least 28 business days for your application to be processed.

Applications will take longer to process if:

• forms are incomplete or not correctly filled in. Please ensure each part of the form is filled in by the appropriate person and completed correctly, or
• there is police or disciplinary information about an applicant that the Commission must retrieve and consider before determining a person's eligibility to work with children.

When should I renew my blue card?

Paid employees may continue in regulated child-related work as long as they submit a renewal form before their blue card expires.

Volunteers, trainee students and business operators must submit their renewal form at least 30 days before their blue card expires in order to continue in regulated work after the expiry of their blue card, unless it is suspended or cancelled earlier.

The Commission will send a renewal application to blue card holders 16 weeks prior to the expiry of their current card. You must advise the Commission of any change to your postal address.

For more information about the renewal process and to access the appropriate form, please click here.

Please note, exemption cards have no expiry date and remain valid as long as the person is a registered teacher or police officer.

Last updated: 21 December, 2011

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