Register of blue card status of home-based carers launched

A register of home-based carers who have applied for, or hold a current blue card in Queensland, has gone live - giving key State Government agencies the ability to check the status of those who may be involved in the care of a child or young person.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the register, drawn from information provided to Blue Card Services Queensland, has been developed in response to the Queensland Family and Child Commission’s report When a child is missing: Remembering Tiahleigh.

“The report recommended establishing a centralised register for recording and reporting on all regulated child care provided from the home, so the information could be shared effectively among key government agencies, including Police, Education, the Office of the Public Guardian and the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“Now our police, and those public servants working in the sector, will have access to up-to-date information about the blue card status of carers and of all adults in that home.”

Mrs D’Ath said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to ensuring child protection measures were strong and effective.

“This register strengthens the current system with a new layer of oversight.

“It will enable our hard-working police, child safety officers and others involved in protecting the interests of children to have access in the field to daily updates to the blue card status of individuals,” she said.

“They will also be able to check if there is more than one childcare activity happening at an address, for example, where a family day carer is also a foster carer.

“It is important for all agencies involved to have access to all pertinent information.

“This register will be one of the sources of information and is an important step in ensuring that Queensland children are safe,” Mrs D’Ath said.

Media contact: Richard O’Leary 0447 155 332 or 3719 7400