In Queensland, a legislative scheme, governed by the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the WWC Act), operates to regulate people who work with children. This is known as the ‘blue card’ system and is administered by Blue Card Services (BCS).Surf Life Saving Queensland has a firm commitment to the safety and welfare of members and others who engage with SLS. We aim at all times to safeguard members who are under 18 years of age from all forms of harm while under the care of SLSQ or its affiliates.

For persons who will be participating in the World Championships

1. MEMBERS OF QUEENSLAND AFFILIATED SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS

All members (aged 18+) of any affiliated Club within Queensland must hold a current Blue Card in line with SLSQ Policy MS06 – Blue Card Screening. You will be required to submit details of your card on registration, and these will be verified.

If you do not have card and you need one please refer to SLSQ Quick Reference Guide : Blue Card Application Process Flowchart. Please liaise with your Club relative to this.

2. MEMBERS OF AUSTRALIAN AFFILIATED SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS

Please be advised that Queensland does not recognise any Working with children checks from another state. Please refer to the Blue Card website relative to this.

If you are working in Queensland in regulated child-related employment for not more than 7 days in a calendar year, you won’t need a blue card (for the purposes of the blue card system, a ‘day’ is for any period of time on 1 day, irrespective of whether it is a full day or part day.

If you are appointed into a role via your Club (Team Manager/Coach etc) or by the Organising Committee (Official) and your appointment spans more than 7 days, then you are required to gain a Blue Card**

** Note if you have already officiated at any Australian or other Championships or any other event in an official capacity in Queensland in 2024 this must be taken into consideration when you are calculating your days. We will be checking the appointments for the Aussies to ensure all that need the card have the card

Interstate Resident who holds a QLD Blue Card

If you are an interstate resident and hold a QLD Blue Card that was gained via another organisation, please provide details in your event registration and we will validate this (Do NOT list the details of your home state-based working with children check). Members are required to verify their Queensland Blue Card via this LWC Blue Card Linking – NON QLD Members

New Applications – NON QLD Members

Step One : If you do not have one and you don’t meet the 7-day threshold test to be exempt from the Blue Card requirements  then you will                          need to access the Remote Pack to apply for a QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Customer Reference                                Number

Step Two : Once you have the Customer Reference Number, please apply for your card via the Blue Card Online Portal

Step Three : You will then need to provide your Blue Card Services Account Number and Queensland Transport Customer Reference Number                       (CRN) to SLSQ via LWC Blue Card Linking – NON QLD Members

Step Four : Once you have done this and are linked to SLSQ then you will receive another email from Blue Card Services asking you to                               complete the application process

3. PERSONS ATTENDING FROM OVERSEAS

Blue Cards have provided advice indicating that members participating in an official capacity do not have to apply for the Blue Cards

However, your Club/Country will be required to sign a declaration indicating the good character of all persons attending on their behalf and that they have not been convicted of any offence in another jurisdiction that is akin to a disqualifying offence if it were committed in Queensland. More information on “what is a disqualifying offence” is below.

The Club/Country will take on any/all responsibilities and liability should any adverse behaviour occur throughout the duration of the event.

4. WHO CANNOT APPLY FOR A BLUE CARD

Any person who is subject to

1. A disqualifying offence /conviction including non-recorded convictions or outstanding charge for a disqualifying offence
   Please refer to this link for information on a disqualifying offence
2. Serious offence / outstanding charge for serious offence
   Please refer to this link for information on a serious offence
3. Negative Notice Holders
   Please refer to this link for information on negative notice holders

GENERAL

Should any criminal behaviours be witnessed/notified- the necessary and appropriate authorities (Queensland Police Service) will be contacted.

SLSQ via the 2024 World Champs Local Organising Committee reserve the right to remove any person from designated carnival areas who do not follow required directions in relation to Child Safety.