Blue Card
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Frequently Asked Questions
Self employed contractor going into a school
I own and operate a business that provides a service to a school. Do I require a blue card?
It depends on whether you provide a service at a school directed mainly towards children, or mainly towards the school.
You do need a blue card if the service you provide is directed mainly towards children - ie. a photographer taking school photographs of children - and
you carry out the service or are likely to carry out the service over 12 months for:
- eight consecutive days, or
- once a week, each week, over four weeks, or
- once a fortnight, each fortnight, over eight weeks, or
- once a month, each month, over six months.
As you have an agreement with the school to carry out this work, the school is considered your employer for the purposes of the Act.
Therefore, the school must complete the employer details on your application form, and sight your proof of identification documents to confirm your identity.
You can apply for a blue card by submitting a Paid Employment (P) Application Form.
However you do not need a blue card if you are:
- under 18 and working as a volunteer (except a ‘trainee student’ working as part of a course of study with an ‘education provider’ as defined in the Act);
- a volunteer parent of a child attending the school;
- a teacher registered under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (Qld) to work at a school;
- a volunteer guest of a school or registered charity, incorporated association or corporation for 10 days or less on no more than two occasions per year for the purpose of observing or supplying information or entertainment to 10 or more people, who is unlikely to be physically present with a child while no other adult is present; or
- a volunteer performing the function of employment for 10 days or less on no more than two occasions per year, at a national or state event, attended by more than 100 people which is organised by a school or recognised body (operating at a state or national level) for a sporting, cultural or skill based activity, who is unlikely to be physically present with a child while no other adult is present.
You do not need a blue card if the service you provide is directed mainly towards the school - ie. a builder doing construction work at a school.
Note
As a paid employee you can work while your application is being processed.
Last Updated: October 3, 2007
