Queensland announces major safeguarding reforms in response to In Plain Sight review

Queensland is preparing for one of the most significant overhauls of its child safeguarding system in more than a decade, with the State Government announcing a comprehensive package of reforms in response to the landmark In Plain Sight: Review into System Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The reforms are designed to strengthen Queensland's ability to identify risks earlier, improve information sharing across agencies and organisations, and prevent harm before it occurs. Together, they signal a shift towards a more connected, intelligence-led and prevention-focused safeguarding system.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) has welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step towards strengthening protections for children and young people across the state.

A new era for child safeguarding

At the centre of the Government's response is a suite of structural reforms aimed at improving coordination, accountability and oversight across Queensland's safeguarding landscape.

Key initiatives include:

Queensland protection commission

A new Queensland Protection Commission will be established to provide system-wide leadership, improve coordination between agencies and strengthen accountability for safeguarding outcomes.

Child safeguarding intelligence hub

The Government will create a dedicated Child Safeguarding Intelligence Hub to bring together information from multiple sources, identify emerging risks and support earlier intervention through enhanced intelligence gathering and information sharing.

Child safeguarding intelligence network

A new Child Safeguarding Intelligence Network will connect regulators, government agencies and community organisations, enabling insights, concerns and emerging patterns of risk to be identified and shared more effectively.

Integrated safeguarding functions

The reforms will also integrate key safeguarding responsibilities, including worker screening and reportable conduct oversight, creating a more cohesive system and reducing duplication across existing structures.

Collectively, the reforms represent a significant move away from fragmented approaches towards a safeguarding system built on prevention, intelligence and early risk identification.

Responding to the findings of In Plain Sight

The Government's response follows the release of the In Plain Sight review, which examined systemic responses to child sexual abuse and identified a number of areas requiring reform.

The review found that Queensland's safeguarding system faced challenges including:

• Inconsistent information sharing between agencies and organisations
• Limited visibility of emerging risks and patterns of concern
• Fragmented oversight arrangements
• Insufficient capability to identify and respond to risks early
• Difficulties coordinating responses across multiple sectors and jurisdictions

The reforms announced by the Government seek to address these issues by creating stronger connections between safeguarding functions and establishing clearer leadership and accountability mechanisms.

QFCC functions to continue

While the reforms introduce significant structural change, the Queensland Family and Child Commission has confirmed that its existing statutory functions will continue.

These include:

• Oversight and monitoring of Queensland's child protection system
• Systemic advocacy
• Review and reporting functions
• Leadership of the Reportable Conduct Scheme

Importantly for child-serving organisations, the Reportable Conduct Scheme remains on track to commence on 1 July 2026.

QFCC Principal Commissioner and Chair of the Child Death Review Board Luke Twyford welcomed the Government's commitment to strengthening safeguarding arrangements, noting that the reforms reflect longstanding calls for improved coordination, stronger prevention mechanisms and greater accountability across the system.

What the reforms mean for the sector

The announcement is likely to be closely watched by organisations working with children, including early childhood education and care providers, schools, community organisations and sporting groups.

Although further implementation details are yet to be released, the reforms signal an increasing emphasis on:

• Early identification of safeguarding risks
• Stronger information sharing and intelligence capabilities
• Improved oversight and accountability
• Child-safe organisational cultures
• Prevention-focused approaches to child protection

For many organisations, the changes reinforce a broader national shift towards embedding safeguarding into governance, leadership, workforce practices and organisational culture rather than treating child safety solely as a compliance requirement.

Next steps

The QFCC has acknowledged that stakeholders will have questions about how the reforms will be implemented and what they will mean in practice.

Over the coming weeks, the Commission will engage directly with key partners and stakeholders, provide further information as implementation details emerge, and continue supporting organisations to prepare for the commencement of the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

As Queensland moves into the implementation phase, the reforms mark a significant step towards a more integrated safeguarding framework, one designed to improve accountability, strengthen prevention and better protect children across all settings.

The challenge now will be translating these structural reforms into meaningful system-wide change that delivers safer environments and stronger protections for children and young people throughout Queensland.

Further information can be accessed here:

• Queensland Government Response to In Plain Sight
• Statement from Queensland Family and Child Commission Principal Commissioner and Chair of the Child Death Review Board Luke Twyford
• In Plain Sight Report