New online resource to help organisations meet Blue Card requirements

Organisations will now have a new, online tool to assist them to meet their requirement to provide a safe environment Queensland children.

Minister responsible for the Blue Card System Jo-Ann Miller launched a new online video learning portal today designed to provide easy access to important information about the Blue Card process.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring parents can feel confident their children will be safe and well looked after when they go to school, child care, play sport or go into the many other environments regulated by the Blue Card system,” Minister Miller said.

“This new online learning portal enables us to disseminate information to a broad range of stakeholders on the best way to manage risks of harm to children - giving them guidance on how to draft their own child and youth risk management strategy.”

Minister Miller said the portal enhances the suite of resources already available and is a practical way to reach out and provide assistance to organisations.

“Organisations can now simply go online, watch these videos and access important information that will greatly assist them,” Minister Miller said.

“Regulated organisations must legally have a strategy which outlines policies and procedures for dealing with a range of issues.

“For example, they must have a code of conduct for interacting with children, and they must have procedures in place to report disclosures and suspicions of harm.

“For all of this to be effective, it is essential organisations tailor policies and procedures to reflect what happens in their own environment.

“This portal is one more practical way the Palaszczuk Government is assisting organisations which value and respect children, organisations that want to have clear policies in place promoting the safety of young people.”

More than two million blue cards have been issued since 2001 and more than 600,000 blue card holders and applicants are monitored on a daily basis to check their eligibility to work with children.

The Blue Card Online Learning Portal is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/BlueCardQldGovAus and www.bluecard.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] June 22 2015

Media contact: Brent Davidson (Minister Miller’s Office) 0438 696 185