Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (2012 – 2013)

Queensland’s third inquiry into the child protection system within little more than a decade commenced with the announcement of a Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (QCPCI). The Terms of Reference were announced by the Premier on 29 June 2012.

Whilst previous Inquiries – the 1999 Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions (the Forde Inquiry) and the 2004 Crime and Misconduct Commissions Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Foster Care – focused on picking up the pieces of children’s lives after being harmed, this Inquiry’s Terms of Reference provided scope for a much broader examination of the child protection system as a whole, including being specifically tasked to make recommendations about strategies to reduce over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system.

The QCPCI heard a wide range of views through submissions, hearings and witness statements, as well as through responses to emerging issues and discussion papers. A challenge for the Inquiry was to devise ways in which investment in prevention, early intervention and intensive family support services can occur without prematurely depleting the capacity of tertiary services before a reduction in demand for these services is realised.

View the QCPCI Final Report Taking Responsibility – A road map for Queensland Child Protection.