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Santa and Santa’s helpers

• The blue card system does not apply to every activity at which a child is present and focuses on those services which are critical to the lives of children and which contribute to their health and wellbeing.
• For the purposes of determining whether or not a blue card is required, there is no distinction between a person performing duties as a Santa or Santa’s helper.

Who needs a blue card?

• A person engaged in a paid capacity as a professional Santa or Santa’s helper by an organisation regulated by the blue card system will need a blue card if the frequency of their work meets the legislated minimum frequency (see http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/bluecard/employees/doineedabluecard.html for more detail) and no exemption applies. A volunteer who regularly undertakes this activity within a regulated organisation will need a blue card if no exemption applies.

Who doesn’t need a blue card?

• However, a person who is engaged as a Santa or Santa’s helper by a business which is not regulated by the blue card system will not require a card.

Additional information

• As an additional safeguard, all organisations regulated by the blue card system must have an up to date, child focused risk management strategy in place. This strategy must include procedures for recruitment and selection, a code of conduct, procedures for handling disclosures or suspicions of harm and plans for high risk activities and special events e.g. Christmas celebrations. A full list of risk management requirements can be found here.
• A regulated organisation’s risk management strategy should take into account instances where someone is employed (either paid or unpaid) on a basis that does not meet the minimum threshold for blue card screening or where an exemption applies.
• Parents are also encouraged to remain alert and active to the risks faced by their children in any environment.

Last updated: 1 November, 2011

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