New safeguarding regulator to bring worker screening and reporting under one roof

Queensland’s new commission will bring together Blue Card screening, Child Safe Standards and reportable conduct oversight, with its main functions due to commence in February 2027.

Worker screening and oversight of allegations against staff will sit with one Queensland regulator following Parliament’s passage of new legislation. For early childhood education and care providers, several safeguarding functions will come under the Queensland Protection Commission.

The Queensland Protection Commission Bill 2026 passed with amendments on 15 October. The government has announced 1 February 2027 as the start of operations for the commission, consolidating functions currently delivered through separate arrangements.

“We found a system where information existed, concerns were raised and warning signs were visible, but the system was too fragmented to bring those pieces together,” Queensland Family and Child Commission Principal Commissioner Luke Twyford said.

His statement published on 16 October outlined the problem the reforms seek to address: families, workers, organisations and authorities each held information, but no single part of the system could see the whole picture.

Screening and safeguarding brought under one regulator

The commission will oversee the Blue Card Scheme, Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards. Disability worker screening will also transfer to the authority, alongside independent child protection system oversight, the Child Death Review Board and the Queensland Child Death Register.

The reforms respond to the In Plain Sight review of system responses to child sexual abuse. The review identified failures in how information was connected and acted upon across organisations and agencies.

Mr Twyford said the legislation also provides foundations for a Child Safeguarding Intelligence Hub and Intelligence Network. These capabilities are intended to help authorities identify connections, patterns and emerging threats that might otherwise remain unseen.

Stronger penalties for failures to disclose information

The government’s announcement identifies increased maximum penalties for specified offences under the Working with Children Check Act and Child Safe Organisations Act. These include knowingly providing false or misleading information or documents to Blue Card Services or the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

Failures to comply with information requests for audit or compliance purposes will also attract increased maximum penalties. Stronger penalties will apply where a reporting entity head fails to disclose reportable conduct allegations or relevant convictions to the regulator.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the reforms were intended to provide “greater accountability, stronger oversight and earlier intervention to better protect our kids”. The government says the penalty changes aim to ensure the commission receives information needed to protect children.

Current provider duties continue during the transition

Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme commenced on 1 July 2026. Providers must continue meeting their existing screening, safeguarding and reporting responsibilities during the transition to the new commission.

Providers can use this period to check how a concern moves from an individual service to the person responsible for assessing notification requirements. Staff need to know whom to contact, while managers need clear arrangements for following up, recording decisions and escalating unresolved concerns.

As official transition instructions become available, policies, contact lists and training materials should be checked against the confirmed arrangements. Bringing functions under one regulator represents a significant system change. Within services, staff still need to recognise concerns, share information promptly and know who is responsible for following through.