Have your say on growing child-safe organisations in Queensland

Organisations are an essential part of childhood, helping children learn, play and grow, and there is a strong community expectation that organisations are safe places where children can thrive. Unfortunately, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded that many organisations entrusted with the care of children and young people failed to protect them and keep them safe, and recommended governments implement 10 child safe standards (CSS) and establish nationally consistent reportable conduct schemes (RCS).

As a result, the Queensland government is seeking feedback on development of a Queensland Child Safe Organisations system. The Queensland Government’s Child Safe Organisations Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS) seeks to identify impacts that regulation for CSS and a Queensland RCS will have on organisations, government and the community, with particular consideration for the children and young people that the proposed regulation is intended to benefit.

Supplementary materials are available to navigate CRIS and understand key issues informing the approach to child safe organisations:

• Overview guide to the CRIS (DOCX)
• Embedding cultural safety (DOCX)
• Scope for Child Safe Standards (CSS) and Reportable Conduct Scheme (RCS) (DOCX)
• Options for Child Safe Standards (CSS) (DOCX)
• Overview for Reportable Conduct Scheme (RCS) (DOCX)
• CRIS FAQs (DOCX)

An upcoming online information session on 4th September will introduce the CRIS and key concepts for further consideration.

An optional template (DOCX) has been developed to assist with preparing submissions. Written feedback can also be provided by email, letter, or digital document. Feedback can be selectively provided on topics relevant to you or your organisation.

Public consultation closes at 5pm Friday, 22nd September. Find out more and lodge a submission at the Queensland Government’s website.