Do I need a blue card to coach, referee or help at a junior sporting club?

Generally yes. Blue Card Services lists these sport volunteer roles as needing a blue card:

• coaching children in sport or recreation
• refereeing or adjudicating children's sporting competitions
• volunteering at junior sporting events
• training or supervising children's sport at a sporting club
• running a surf lifesaver Nippers program
• organising events mainly for children

Whether a particular volunteer needs one depends on the type of work, where it is done and whether an exemption applies (see the other questions in this guide). For blue card purposes, volunteers are treated as employees of the organisation they volunteer for.

Sources: https://www.qld.gov.au/jobs/blue-card/required/individuals-businesses/sport-active-recreation, https://www.qld.gov.au/jobs/blue-card/required/individuals-businesses/churches-clubs-associations and https://www.qld.gov.au/jobs/blue-card/required/industries/volunteers