Key points include:

• The No Card, No Start law—you cannot work or volunteer in a position requiring a blue card until your application is approved.

• If your card expires, the No Card, No Start law comes into play and you cannot serve.

• There are stricter requirements for people who rely on an exemption to work or volunteer with children—through the introduction of the terms "restricted person" and "restricted employment",  and associated offences. 

• Citipointe as an organisation can be fined, along with you, if we allow a known restricted person to apply for a blue card. 

• All Blue Cards are valid until the expiry date. 

• Blue Cards include a photo. Blue Cards will access a photo ID from TMR or another source.

• We only accept blue card applications online. 

• All Blue card holders must know where their physical blue card is and let Blue Card Services know if it gets lost. 

• You must notify Blue Card Services yourself about changes in your police information as a card holder or applicant. We don't need to know. 

• Organisational Links for paid, volunteer and student blue or exemption card holders automatically carry over when their cards are renewed on time.  

• It’s important that renewals are submitted on time. If you renew after your old card expires, then your links will need to be re-established. 

• Please keep your contact details up-to-date with Blue Card Services to ensure that you receive their renewal reminder. This includes updating your last name if it changes.

• When you get your positive notice email/SMS from Blue Card Services, Citipointe will also be notified through the portal. You are permitted to serve immediately you get this email/SMS. 

The word "Upline" in this site refers to the person you report to or the leader to whom you are responsible. 

There are new definitions for those who have previously been exempt from having a blue card to work or volunteer with children through the terms restricted person and restricted employment, Organisations can now be fined, along with the individual, for allowing a known restricted person to apply for a blue card. They are:

Restricted person

A restricted person is a person who either:

• has been issued a negative notice

• has a suspended blue card

• is a disqualified person

• has been charged with a disqualifying offence that has not been finalised.

Restricted employment

Restricted employment refers to the situations or exemptions that allow a person to work with children without a blue card, such as if they are:

• a volunteer parent

• a volunteer who is under 18

• paid or unpaid staff who work in regulated child-related employment for not more than 7 days in a calendar year

• a consumer at a child-related service outlet where they also carry out work at the outlet.

A child-related service outlet is a place where disability services are provided to children.