Child safe standards strengthen child protection

​​​​Keeping children safe is the number one priority of early childhood professionals.

The Queensland Government is introducing child safe standards, developed in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse’s recommendations.

Queensland’s new child safeguarding law—the Child Safe Organisations Act—applies to all organisations that work with children or provide services and spaces for them.

Under this law, organisations will be required to implement 10 Child Safe Standards which need to be embedded with the Universal Principle that ensures cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

These requirements will come into effect from 1 January 2026 for early childhood education and care services.

This will complement the work already undertaken based on findings from the 2019 NQF Review in line with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations which came into effect in October 2023.​

Embedding child safe standards

The Queensland Family and Child Commission has released comprehensive guidelines and a self-assessment tool to help organisations understand their obligations and the actions they need to take to be considered child safe and compliant.

The guidelines include information about:

• the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle
• how to embed these in policies and practice
• the documents and actions needed for organisations to demonstrate compliance with the new law.​
  

Talking with familie​s

Talking with families about how your service is keeping their children safe is important. You may find the following resources useful:

• personal safety guide for parents and carers
  
• child protection brochures for families and carers
  
• child protection requirements​ for Queensland early childhood education and care services.
  

Support s​ervices

Child protection related issues are confronting for many people. If you need support: 

• Lifeline is a 24/7 telephone counselling and referral service across a range of support areas. Phone 13 11 14​.
  
• Blue Knot supports adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse, parents, partners, family and friends. Phone 1300 657 380.
  
• Kids Helpline offers telephone and online counselling service for children and young people aged between 5 and 25 years. Phone 1800 551 800.
  
• WellMob​ provides a safe online place made by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, bringing together wellbeing resources that are culturally relevant.
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