Welcoming child safety reforms in Queensland

Queensland Parliament today passed the Child Safe Organisations Bill 2024 and amendments to the Blue Card scheme, marking a significant moment for child safety in Queensland.

The Child Safe Organisations Bill introduces a model for child safe standards and a reportable conduct scheme, which were recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2017. 

The mantra that child safety is everyone’s business is now enshrined in law, and Queensland should be proud of that.

This new law gives the Queensland Family and Child Commission significant responsibilities. We will now start considered planning ahead of implementation, which will involve extensive engagement with the community, while maintaining a sharp focus on the needs, wellbeing and safety of Queensland children.

The law will be implemented in stages over three years, and we will publish information on our website about this process.

The amendments to the Blue Card scheme remove the requirement for kinship carers and adult household members to hold a Blue Card to care for family. This change affirms the primacy of safety for each child in every decision, and it acknowledges the critical role that cultural continuity plays in achieving safety for First Nations children. 

The reform responds to many of our recommendations about Blue Card dating back to 2017 and responds to concerns long raised by First Nations families and communities across Queensland.

Every Queensland child has the right to be raised safely in their culture, connected to kin and Country. Caring for family is not employment, and this new law means more families can stay together in a safe and loving home.

Reforming the Blue Card scheme is a step in the right direction to correcting historical injustices and delivering better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in Queensland. 

Both of these reforms follow years of sustained, collective advocacy from leaders across the child and family sector and in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We join them today in celebrating and welcoming these milestones.

For media information contact:
Kirstine O’Donnell | Queensland Family and Child Commission
Phone: 0404 971 164
Email:    media@qfcc.qld.gov.au