Safeguarding children
Queensland is taking the next step to safeguard children.
Safeguarding children against harm is a shared responsibility that requires a collective effort across organisations, communities and regulators. Children have the right to be safe, always, and it is the responsibility of the adults and systems around them to make every effort to ensure this right is upheld.
The Child Safe Organisations system will build child safe cultures where children are valued, heard and at the centre of everything they do. The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) is responsible for ensuring the Child Safe Organisations system is implemented across Queensland and monitored.
The new Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 is designed to promote the safety, wellbeing and best interests of all Queensland children. The legislation has two key parts that will align Queensland with national and international child protection standards, ensuring we are all working to safeguard children:
Organisations that engage in child related work, provide services specifically for children, or run facilities for children’s use will be required to implement 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle within their processes, policies and practices. This includes early childhood education providers, schools, hospitals and churches through to businesses and organisations employing staff or run by volunteers that provide services to or who work with children.
In Queensland, the Reportable Conduct Scheme will require organisations to notify the QFCC when allegations or convictions relating to an employee or volunteer of the organisation constitute reportable conduct. It also requires entities to investigate concerns about the conduct of staff and volunteers in relation to their work with children, and report back to the QFCC. This applies to certain organisations with a high degree of responsibility for children, or where there is a heightened risk to children due to the type of institution, type of activities undertaken or the vulnerability of the children.
This Child Safe Organisations system will be introduced in a phased approach from 1 October 2025, meaning different sectors will be required to meet their legal obligations at different times. QFCC is in the early stages of implementation, which involves building a team, establishing governance, and preparing resources to successfully engage with and equip the sectors to be child safe.
Have a story to tell or news to share
Let us know by submitting a news story, an article, a review, a white paper and more …
Submit
