TAFE teachers & blue cards
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 126 No 1, 12 February 2021, page no.22
Recent changes to blue card requirements have left TAFE teachers asking “Do I need one?”
If you are teaching on a TAFE or CQU campus then you probably don’t need to hold a blue card, as they are registered training organisations and the teaching is not being carried out at a school, hospital or child care centre. This is so even if working with students under 18 years of age.
However, employment with the public provider of VET is regarded as child-related if the usual work duties include providing services or conducting activities that mainly involve children (ie anyone under the age of 18 years). TAFE teaching staff engaged in “regulated employment” (attending any schools or workplaces or conducting activities where they have contact with children) for the “minimum frequency” are required to hold a blue card. The minimum frequency is: at least eight consecutive days, or once a week for four weeks, or once a fortnight for eight weeks, or once a month during a period of six months.
Registered teachers are not required to hold a blue card but may be required to hold an exemption card. The Queensland Government “No Card, No Start” policy has applied to TAFE Queensland from 1 January.
In TAFE Queensland, managers are responsible for determining positions requiring blue cards, verifying currency of staff blue cards, ensuring applications for blue cards are submitted by staff requiring them, and ensuring exemption cards are acquired prior to commencement of duty in cases where they are applicable.
Blue cards are valid for three years and employees must notify their manager of any changes to the status of their blue card, including: expired blue cards, receipt of a negative notice (including details of the charge, offence or penalty, blue card suspension or cancellation). Exemption cards remain valid while a person remains a registered teacher.
More information on blue cards can be found on the TAFE Queensland SPOT. Search for: "715 Blue Cards", "Blue Cards Fact Sheet" and "Fact Sheet: Changes to the Blue Card System".