National child safety changes
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 4, 26 June 2026, page no.25
Changes to national child safety legislation are coming into effect — but what do they mean for you?
Blue cards
Recent changes and clarifications to child safety requirements highlight the importance of blue cards for teachers and staff in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings.
In Queensland, a teacher registered with the Queensland College of Teachers is exempt from requiring a blue card while engaged in teaching duties at a school or an approved kindergarten/education and care service. This exemption is provided under the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld).
However, the exemption does not always apply to teachers working in standalone kindergartens that are not state-delivered kindergartens (SDKs). In standalone kindergartens, teachers may be required to hold a blue card because their roles often extend beyond teaching duties to include non-teaching responsibilities or other functions within the service. The distinction is important: the exemption is limited to teaching roles in schools and SDKs and may only cover part of a teacher’s duties in standalone kindergartens.
Child safety training
A new element of early childhood education and care is the requirement for child safety training. From 27 August 2026, the following people in an ECEC service regulated under the National Quality Framework must complete approved child safety training:
- people with management or control, who will typically be the regional director
- nominated supervisors, generally the school’s principal
- people in day-to-day charge
- all other staff members of the service.
If you are not a staff member of the SDK but are a staff member of the school, you are not required to undertake the training. If you are working in a standalone kindergarten, you will be required to undertake the training.
The requirement is specific to those directly involved in the ECEC service regulated under the National Quality Framework.
SDKs with less than five students are not regulated under the National Quality Framework, and different requirements apply to those very small services.
Summary
These changes reinforce the importance of child safety in early education settings. Teachers and staff must be aware of their obligations regarding blue cards and child safety training, particularly when working in standalone kindergartens, as opposed to SDKs. Compliance ensures the safety and wellbeing of children and supports regulatory standards across Queensland.