Guest speakers
I am a paid employee who is going into a school as a guest speaker. Do I need a blue card?
Under the 'Schools - employees other than teachers and parents' category of regulated employment, if your paid employment includes, or is likely to include, providing a guest speaking service to children in schools, you will need a blue card if the services, over a 12 month period, are for:
- eight consecutive days, or
- once a week, each week, over four weeks, or
- once a fortnight, each fortnight, over eight weeks, or
- once a month, each month, over six months
unless an exemption applies.
You can apply for a blue card by submitting a Blue card application (BC) form (PDF, 251KB) and selecting the 'Schools - other than registered teachers and parents' category of regulated employment.
Please note, paid employees who require a blue card or exemption card can commence regulated child-related work once they have lodged an application with Blue Card Services and while their application is being processed.
I am a volunteer guest speaker and will be going into a school. Do I need a blue card?
Under the 'Schools - employees other than teachers and parents' category of regulated employment, if your volunteer work includes, or is likely to include, providing a guest speaking service to children in schools you will require a blue card unless an exemption applies.
You will not need a blue card if you are a:
- volunteer guest of a school and are:
- observing or supplying information or entertainment to ten or more people, and
- the activity is for ten days or less on no more than two occasions per year, and
- the person is unlikely to be alone with a child without another adult present, or
- volunteer at a national or state event organised by a school:
- for a sporting, cultural or skill based activity, and
- the event is attended by more than 100 people, and
- the work is for ten days or less on no more than two occasions per year, and
- the person is unlikely to be alone with a child without another adult present.
You can apply for a blue card by submitting a Blue card application (BC) form (PDF, 251KB) and selecting the 'Schools (other than registered teachers and parents)' category of regulated employment.
Volunteers who require a blue card must hold a valid blue card before they can commence volunteer work.
Last Updated: 30 June, 2015
