QLD - Working With Children Check

Applying for a Working With Children Check in Queensland

To ensure compliance with the legislation in QLD for Working with Children, all mentors participating in ABCN programs are required to hold a current/valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) prior to engaging in volunteering activities. This check in QLD is commonly known as a Blue Card and is regulated by Blue Card Services, Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

The management of the WWCC process in QLD is a coordinated process involving ABCN Member Company Champions, Mentors and ABCN Program Managers. This document primarily outlines the relevant responsibilities and process to be followed by Member Company Champions and Mentors.

Overall system changes to the WWCC process by the Government as at 31^st August 2020 have resulted in the Blue Card system linking to the Department of Main Roads and Transport for verification of applicant information and photo ID which will appear on all new cards issued.

Mentors

When mentors nominate themselves for ABCN programs, they must EITHER:

• Apply for a Blue Card online via the Blue Card Services website in coordination with their ABCN Company Champion
  OR
• Provide details of their valid/current Blue Card to enable linking to ABCN (if not already the case).

Mentors who DO NOT have a valid/current Blue Card

You will apply online via the Blue Card Services website for your Blue Card. You will need to register an account (one-time process) and will need to validate your identity using a QLD Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) product number/CRN (most common product number/CRN currently available to applicants will be your QLD Drivers Licence).  If you do not hold a current TMR product, please refer to the instructions on the Blue Card Services website for further details on how to obtain a product number/CRN.

1. Navigate to the Blue Card Services website.

2. Select the option to ‘Apply for a blue card using the online applicant portal’ and follow screen prompts. If successful you will receive an online account reference number via email from Blue Card Services.

3. Forward the email containing the online account reference number to your Company Champion and also include the following information:

• Full name as it appears on your account
• Date of Birth

4. Your Company Champion will onforward your email to ABCN who will arrange to link you to their organisation. Your application will not be complete unless the link to ABCN is established. ABCN will confirm the link with the Company Champion who in turn will notify you.

5. You will be notified by Blue Card Services via SMS or email of the outcome of your application (this could take up to 28 business days).

6. ABCN will also receive a notification from Blue Card Services once your application has been approved.

7. Please ensure that you take your Blue Card to all ABCN sessions as you may be requested to produce it for verification purposes.

Mentors with an existing valid/current Blue Card

1. Mentors provide a copy of their card to their ABCN Company Champion. If you have previously volunteered in ABCN programs then proceed to Step 4. If this is the first time you are volunteering for ABCN and you did not apply for your card via ABCN previously then proceed to Step 2 below.

2. If this is the first time you will volunteer for ABCN and your initial application for the card was not via ABCN then you will need to link your card to ABCN. This will ensure that ABCN will be advised of any changes in the card status. Linking your card to ABCN is done online by ABCN. To facilitate this process please follow Step 3 below.

3. Email the following details to your Company Champion for them to onforward to ABCN for linking:

• Blue Card Number
• Blue Card Expiry Date
• Full name as it appears on the card
• Date of Birth

4. Please ensure that you take along your Blue Card to all ABCN sessions as you may be requested to produce it for verification purposes.

*Note – it is an offence for a disqualified person to sign a Blue Card application.

Cost of Applying for Blue Card

There are no application fees applicable for Blue Cards in QLD which are issued under ABCN as the Organisation. Fees may be applicable for re-issue of lost/stolen cards – mentors are liable for these.

Renewal of Blue Card

It is the responsibility of individual mentors to ensure that their Blue Card is current and valid. If you have previously held a Blue Card which has subsequently expired you will need to complete the application process as per the above process titled ‘Mentors who DO NOT have a valid/current Blue Card’ outlined earlier in this document.

If your Blue Card is due to expire please ensure that you renew it prior to the expiry for any existing link to ABCN to remain in place.

Further information on the Blue Card System and your obligations as a volunteer and Blue Card holder can be found on the Blue Card Services website.

ABCN Champions

The ABCN QLD Blue Card system is managed on-line via the ABCN Blue Card Services Portal. Only ABCN staff will have access to this portal.

Each Member Company Champion will be responsible for the coordination of the Blue Card process in conjunction with ABCN for their organisation. Please refer below for instructions for new applications and linking of existing cards.

Blue Card Applications – for all mentors who do not hold a current/valid Blue Card

1. Mentors will apply for cards online via the Blue Card Services website. Instructions for this process are outlined earlier in this document. You will need to arrange to forward this document to mentors.              

2. As per step 3 of the mentor instruction “Mentors who DO NOT have a valid/current Blue Card” they will forward the confirmatory email with additional information as requested. You will be responsible to confirm that the mentor details match the applicant’s identity. Once this is done please forward the email to ABCN at bluecardqld@abcn.com.au. 

3. ABCN will then arrange to link the mentor to our organisation and will send confirmation to you that this has occurred. You will need to onforward this confirmation to the mentor.

4. Champion to keep a record of approved Blue Cards as notified by ABCN. See note below.

Note – ABCN will receive notification direct from Blue Card Services regarding all approvals of linked cards. Email notification will be forwarded to all Company Champions by ABCN on receipt of notifications from Blue Card Services and their relevant database noted.

Mentors with an existing valid/current Blue Card – not previously linked to ABCN

1. As per Step 3 of the mentor instruction ‘Mentors with an existing valid/current Blue Card’ mentors will email you the following details:

• Blue Card Number
• Blue Card Expiry Date
• Full name as it appears on the card
• Date of Birth

2. You will be responsible to confirm that the mentor details match the applicant’s identity. Once this is done please forward the email to ABCN at bluecardqld@abcn.com.au. 

3. ABCN will then arrange to link the mentor to our organisation. The mentor will receive an email direct from Blue Card Services once the link has been successful. ABCN may also send a confirmation to you to onforward to the mentor.

4. Champion to keep a record of approved Blue Cards as notified by ABCN. See note below.

Note – ABCN will receive notification direct from Blue Card Services regarding confirmations of linked cards. Email notification may be forwarded to all Company Champions by ABCN on receipt of notifications from Blue Card Services and their relevant database noted. If you have any questions regarding the Blue Card process, please contact your ABCN Program Manager.