The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld) represents the most significant reform to child safety requirements in Queensland in over a decade. For community organisations working with children and young people, understanding and implementing these requirements is now a legal obligation, not just best practice.
This guide explains what the Act requires and how your organisation can achieve compliance.
Why This Legislation Matters
The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 implements recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It creates a consistent, enforceable framework for child safety across Queensland, replacing the previous patchwork of sector specific requirements.
The Act recognises that child safety is not achieved through policies alone. It requires organisations to embed child safety into their culture, governance and everyday operations.
Who Must Comply?
The Act applies to "regulated entities" which include:
- Queensland Government departments and agencies
- Local governments
- State funded non-government organisations providing services to children
- Education and care services
- Schools (government and non-government)
- Health services
- Disability services providing supports to children
- Out of home care services
- Youth justice services
- Religious institutions
- Accommodation services for children
- Sport and recreation organisations
If your organisation provides services to children or young people under 18, or employs or engages people who have contact with children through your operations, you likely fall within scope.
The 10 Child Safe Standards
The Act mandates compliance with 10 Child Safe Standards, based on the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations:
Standard 1: Child safety is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture
Your board and leadership team must demonstrate visible commitment to child safety. This means child safety is a standing agenda item, resources are allocated appropriately, and leaders model the behaviours expected of all staff.
Standard 2: Children participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously
Children and young people should have opportunities to provide input into policies, programs and decisions that affect them. Their views must be genuinely considered, not just collected.
Standard 3: Families and communities are informed and involved
Parents, carers and communities are partners in child safety. They should understand your child safety commitments and know how to raise concerns.
Standard 4: Equity is upheld and diverse needs are taken into account
Your child safety approach must recognise and respond to the diverse needs of children, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disability, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and LGBTIQ+ children.
Standard 5: People working with children are suitable and supported
This covers recruitment, screening, supervision and ongoing management of all people who have contact with children through your organisation, whether employees, volunteers, contractors or students on placement.
Standard 6: Processes to respond to complaints of child abuse are child focused
Your complaints processes must be accessible to children, taken seriously, responded to promptly and lead to appropriate action. Children must be supported throughout the process.
Standard 7: Staff are equipped with knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe
All staff need initial and ongoing training in child safety, recognising abuse, responding to disclosures and your organisation's specific policies and procedures.
Standard 8: Physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse
You must assess and manage risks in all environments where children access your services, including online platforms and social media.
Standard 9: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is continuously reviewed and improved
Compliance is not a one off exercise. You need systems to monitor implementation, identify gaps and drive continuous improvement.
Standard 10: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is child safe
Your policy framework must address all aspects of child safety and be accessible, current and consistently applied.
Key Compliance Requirements
Beyond the 10 standards, the Act introduces specific requirements:
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Regulated entities must have a child safety and wellbeing policy that addresses all 10 standards. This policy must be publicly available and reviewed at least every two years.
Child Safety and Wellbeing Complaints Management System
You must establish a system specifically for managing child safety complaints that is separate from or clearly distinguished within your general complaints process.
Risk Management
Organisations must identify, assess and manage risks to children across all aspects of operations. This includes environmental risks, online risks and risks associated with specific activities or programs.
Reporting Obligations
The Act strengthens reporting requirements for child safety concerns. Organisations must have clear procedures for internal reporting and for making reports to external authorities including the Department of Child Safety, Queensland Police and other relevant bodies.
Implementation Timeline
The Act commenced on 1 July 2024 with a phased implementation approach:
Phase 1 (1 July 2024): Core requirements commence for government entities and high-risk non-government organisations.
Phase 2 (1 January 2025): Requirements extend to remaining regulated entities.
Phase 3 (Throughout 2025): Compliance monitoring and enforcement commences.
Check the specific dates applicable to your organisation type, as different sectors have different transition arrangements.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The Act introduces significant penalties for non-compliance:
- Failure to have a child safety policy: up to 500 penalty units
- Failure to report child safety concerns: up to 100 penalty units
- Providing false or misleading information: up to 200 penalty units
Beyond financial penalties, non-compliance creates reputational risk and, most importantly, increases the risk of harm to children.
Getting Your Organisation Ready
Start your compliance journey with these steps:
1. Assess your current state
Review your existing child safety policies, procedures and practices against each of the 10 standards. Identify gaps and prioritise areas for action.
2. Engage your board
Child safety governance starts at the top. Ensure your board understands their obligations and has child safety as a regular agenda item.
3. Update your policies
Review and update your child safe policies to explicitly address the 10 standards. Ensure policies are practical, accessible and supported by procedures.
4. Train your people
Develop and deliver child safety training for all staff, volunteers and board members. Training should be role appropriate and refreshed regularly.
5. Review your environments
Conduct risk assessments of all physical and online environments where children access your services. Implement controls to minimise identified risks.
6. Strengthen your complaints processes
Ensure your complaints system is genuinely accessible to children and young people, and that responses are child focused and trauma informed.
7. Establish monitoring systems
Create systems to monitor compliance with the standards and identify areas for continuous improvement.
Support for Implementation
You do not need to do this alone. Resources available to support your implementation include:
- Queensland Government guidance materials and templates
- Neat Co. for professional consultants specialising in child safe organisations
- Neat Co. for template policies mapped to the 10 standards
Our child safe policy templates have been updated to reflect the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 requirements and are designed specifically for Queensland community organisations. Browse the collection or contact us to discuss how we can support your compliance journey.
