Queensland child safety reforms strengthened with new information-sharing guidelines and reporting tools

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has released a new suite of resources to support organisations implementing the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024, marking another important milestone in Queensland’s child safety reform agenda.

The update, issued to sector stakeholders, confirms the publication of a new Information Sharing Guideline, alongside a comprehensive set of reporting forms for the Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme.

The newly published Information Sharing Guideline provides practical guidance for organisations navigating their responsibilities under the Child Safe Organisations Act.

It outlines:

• the types of information that may be shared under the Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme
• the legislative limitations and safeguards that apply
• how the information-sharing provisions interact with privacy, child protection and other relevant laws
• the responsibilities of organisations and other parties when sharing information to protect children from harm.

Developed in consultation with Queensland’s network of regulators, the guideline is intended to reduce uncertainty and support consistent and lawful information sharing across organisations working with children.

The resource will be particularly relevant for organisations reviewing their governance arrangements, privacy processes, escalation pathways and procedures for responding to child safety concerns.

New reporting forms released

The QFCC has also published a range of forms to support organisations, workers, volunteers and members of the public in reporting concerns under the new framework.

The forms now available include:

• Child Safe Standards report form — for reporting concerns that an organisation may not be meeting Queensland’s Child Safe Standards
• Reportable conduct form for organisations — for workers or volunteers reporting suspected child abuse or harm by another worker or volunteer within the same organisation
• Reportable conduct form for individuals — for people outside an organisation reporting suspected abuse or neglect by one of its workers or volunteers
• Initial report for heads of entity
• Interim report for heads of entity
• Final report for heads of entity.

The forms provide clearer and more structured pathways for documenting concerns and submitting information in line with the legislative requirements.

Online portal remains the main reporting pathway

The QFCC has reminded organisations that the primary method for heads of entity to report matters and submit documentation under the Reportable Conduct Scheme is through the dedicated online portal available on its website.

The newly released forms provide additional resources to support the reporting process, but heads of entity should continue to use the portal as the main submission pathway.

Supporting implementation of the new child safety framework

The QFCC thanked organisations for their patience while the resources were finalised and said the guidelines and forms would support their ongoing work to implement the Child Safe Organisations Act and protect children from harm.

The release follows the commencement of Queensland’s Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme on 1 July 2026, introducing new responsibilities for organisations working with children.

For early childhood education and care providers, the resources provide further practical guidance as services continue reviewing their policies, reporting procedures, information-sharing practices and governance arrangements to ensure they align with the new requirements.