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More than 500 people have been stopped from working with children as the Queensland government cracks down on the state’s Blue Card system.
Figures from Blue Card Services show 543 blue and exemption cards suspended between September 20 and February 28 from industries including childcare, disability services, counselling and sports coaching.
Of these, 269 holders of Blue Cards have been prevented from child-related work, while 274 have had their cards suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington would not be drawn on specific cases, or whether any of the suspensions had led to arrests or charges, but she said there were allegations of children being harmed.
“If [there weren’t allegations around children being harmed], there wouldn’t be the concern for [a worker] to hold a Blue Card,” she said.
“If someone wants to work with children in Queensland, they need to understand that they need to meet the high level of holding a Blue Card in this state.”
Conduct that can trigger a suspension includes allegations of sexual or violent behaviour towards a child, as well as criminal or other concerning conduct within child-regulated activities.
In September last year, the state government introduced changes to Queensland’s Working With Children legislation requiring more people who work with children to hold a Blue Card, and introducing a new self-disclosure framework and a simpler disqualifying process.
A new suspension power to allow Blue Card to take immediate action when notified of a risk to the safety of children was also introduced.
The following month, the government announced it was fast-tracking the rollout of Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme, with child protection services, educational services and early childhood education providers required to meet new standards of reporting and investigating concerning behaviour by July 1, 2026.
Reportable conduct includes a child sexual offence, sexual misconduct, ill-treatment of a child, neglect and physical violence.
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