Reportable Conduct Scheme

In its Final Report in 2017, the Royal Commission recommended the introduction of a Reportable Conduct Scheme to improve the way institutions handle complaints about child sexual abuse and encourage improvements in: 

• institutional complaint handling policies and procedures
• investigation standards 
• reporting where abuse was known or suspected. 

The Reportable Conduct Scheme applies to certain organisations with a high degree of responsibility for children or engage in activities where there is a heightened risk to children due to type of institution, the type of activities undertaken or the vulnerability of the children the organisation engages with. These are called ‘reporting entities’ and Schedule 2 of the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 lists the categories of organisations and businesses that will become reporting organisations. The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires them to report and investigate concerns about the conduct of staff and volunteers in relation to their work with children. 

Reportable conduct includes:

• a child sexual offence
• sexual misconduct committed in relation to, or in the presence of a child
• ill-treatment of a child
• significant neglect of a child
• physical violence committed in relation to, or in the presence of a child, or
• behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child

Reportable conduct may occur through a single act or omission, or a series of acts or omissions. 

Reportable conduct does not include conduct that is reasonable for the discipline, management or care of a child taking into account characteristics of the child (including the age, developmental stage and health of the child) and any applicable code of conduct or professional standard.

If an organisation is aware of alleged conduct which may be or is criminal, it must report the matter to the police promptly. Any police investigation has priority over any Reportable Conduct Scheme investigation. In those circumstance, the Child Safe Organisation must still take steps to mitigate risks to children’s safety and wellbeing and can take interim risk management action pending the outcome of the police investigation. Any action taken by the organisation must not prejudice the police investigation.

In Queensland, the Reportable Conduct Scheme requires organisations to notify the Queensland Family and Child Commission when allegations or convictions relating to actions by an employee or volunteer of the organisation constitute reportable conduct. 

The head of a Child Safe Organisation will be required to:

• ensure systems are in place for preventing reportable conduct, reporting, investigating and responding to reportable allegations against and convictions of their workers
• notify the QFCC of reportable allegations or convictions
• arrange for an investigation of the reportable allegation and conviction and provide a final report to the QFCC
• provide information as requested by the QFCC

The Reportable Conduct Scheme will commence from 1 July 2026 and will be introduced through a staged approach, with all reporting organisations required to comply by 1 July 2027.

The organisations required to implement the Reportable Conduct Scheme and the phases of implementation can be found on the Implementation in Queensland page. Any organisation required to comply with the Reportable Conduct Scheme must also ensure they meet the Child Safe Standards.