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Your search for Child Safety returned 53 record/s.
Qld Govt Strategy to Target Domestic and Family Violence Domestic and family violence is a serious and complex issue. Women and children are most often the victims of violence in the home and within their relationships. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can be up to 45 times more likely to experience domestic and family violence than non-Indigenous people. People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people from rural and r
Review of the domestic discipline defence Section 280 of the Criminal Code makes it lawful for a parent or carer to use such force to a child as is reasonable in the circumstances for the purposes of correction, discipline, management or control. In order to examine whether the existence of this defence is impacting on the prosecution of abusive parents, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General reviewed 198 cases accused of parent/c
Criminal History Screening Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 The Criminal History Screening Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 proposes to streamline criminal history screening for Queenslanders. These arrangements will reduce duplication of screening and achieve consistency in screening for persons providing services to children and young people or working in a place where the Department of Communities funds or provides disability services, while maintaining
Review of swimming pool safety laws The implementation of a two year, staged improvement strategy to assist in reducing the incidences of drowning and immersion injuries of children under five years of age in Queensland’s swimming pools. The proposed improvement strategy was developed following public feed back and a number of proposals to change Queensland’s pool fencing safety laws. Cabinet approved the release of the public cons
Criminal Code (Images of Violence Against Children) The Member for Moggill and Shadow Minister for Education and Training, Dr Bruce Flegg, introduced the Criminal Code (Filming or Possessing Images of Violence Against Schoolchildren) Amendment Bill 2010 as a Private Member’s Bill in March 2010. The Bill replaced the Criminal Code (Filming or Possessing Images of Violence Against Children) Amendment Bill 2009, which Dr Flegg withdrew. The Explanator
Child Protection (Offender Reporting) and other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 In June 2009 the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management – Police (MCPEMP) endorsed a set of recommendations to establish national consistency in the approach to management of reportable offenders in Australian police jurisdictions. In observation of the MCPEMP recommendations, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) also conducted a review of the Child Protection (Offender Reporting)
Criminal Code (Images of Violence Against Children) The Member for Moggill and Shadow Minister for Education and Training, Dr Bruce Flegg, introduced the Criminal Code (Filming or Possessing Images of Violence Against Children) Amendment Bill 2009 as a Private Member’s Bill in October 2009. The Explanatory Notes to the Bill state the objective of the Bill is to amend the Criminal Code to provide protection for children who are the targets of cyber
Child Protection and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2010 The Child Protection and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2010 amends the Child Protection Act 1999 and a number of other Acts, including amendments to achieve the policy intent of the Criminal History Screening Legislation Amendment Act 2010. The Child Protection and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2010 includes amendments to enable information sharing for the Helping Out Families initiative, and contains o
Private Members Bill - Child Protection Bill 2011 The Member for Gregory Mr Vaughan Johnson MP, introduced the Child Protection (More Stringent Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill 2010 as a Private Member’s Bill on 14 April 2010. The Private Member’s Bill proposes to increase the reporting requirements for offenders, restructure penalties for non-compliance and release the information of offenders for non-compliance. The Private Member’s Bill is n
Government Response to Sexual Offender Treatment Programs report In 2009, Queensland Corrective Services engaged the services of Professor Stephen Smallbone, from Griffith University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, to independently evaluate the effectiveness of its sex offender treatment programs with particular reference to their impact on recidivism rates. The evaluation considered the recidivism data of 409 adult males who had served a term of
Appointment of Commissioner to Child Protection Commission of Inquiry The Commissioner to the Child Protection Inquiry is established under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1950. As part of the “First 100 Days Action Plan” the Government made a commitment to appoint a new Commission of Inquiry “to review progress of outcomes related to the ‘Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions’ and the report of the Crime and Misconduct
Establishment of Commission of Inquiry on child protection As part of the Queensland Government’s 100 day action plan, the Government committed to establish an ‘Inquiry to review the progress of the implementation of the recommendations of the Forde Inquiry and Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) Inquiry and to chart a new road map for child protection for the next decade’. The Commission’s focus will be on charting a new road map for Queensland’s chil
Commonwealth Income Management Trials in Queensland Income management was announced in the 2011–12 Federal Budget as part of the Better Futures, Local Solutions place-based measures, with the Commonwealth Government investing $117.5 million over five years to introduce income management in five new trial locations across Australia, including Rockhampton and Logan in Queensland. Income management is a budgeting tool being implemented by the Commonw
Criminal Law Child Exploitation and Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill 2012 As part of its Six Month Action Plan the Queensland Government committed to amend laws to address: “synthetic drugs, penalties for child pornography and some child sex offences, including a new child grooming offence”. Key provisions of the Criminal Law (Child Exploitation and Dangerous Drugs) Amendment Bill 2012 deliver on these commitments by: amending the Criminal Code to: amend the definit
Response to Child Protection Commission of Inquiry Final Report In July 2012, the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry led by the Honourable Tim Carmody QC, was established. The Commission was tasked with reviewing the entire child protection system and to chart a road map for the state’s child protection system for the next decade. The Commission found that, despite the hard work and good intentions of many and the large amounts of money investe
Govt submission Royal Comm Institutional Response Child Sexual Abuse issues paper 3 In January 2013, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia appointed a Royal Commission (the RC) to investigate Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and provide a final report by the end of 2015. The RC will inquire into how institutions with a responsibility for children have managed and responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse. It will investigate where
Appointments Child Death Case Review Committee The Child Death Case Review Committee was established under Chapter 6, Part 1 of the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act 2000. The Committee is required to review all “original reviews” carried out by the Chief Executive under Part 7A of the Child Protection Act 1999 and make recommendations to the Chief Executive about: improving Child Safety Services policies relati
Appointment of members to the Child Death Case Review Panel On 1 July 2012, the Queensland Government established the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (the Commission), led by the Honourable Tim Carmody QC. The Commission was tasked with reviewing the entire child protection system and to chart a new roadmap for child protection for the next decade. On 1 July 2013, the Commission released its final report, ‘Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap
Queensland Child Protection Reform Bills On 1 July 2013, the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry issued its landmark report making 121 recommendations to improve Queensland’s child protection system. The aim of the recommended reforms is to make it easier for families to get support so that wherever possible, children can remain safely at home. In December 2013, the Queensland Government tabled a response to the Commission
Child Protection Offender Reporting Amendment Bill 2014 The government has committed to introducing more stringent monitoring of sex offenders and tougher conditions for offenders who make up the Queensland component of the National Child Offender System (NCOS) (formerly the Australian National Child Offender Register). The Child Protection (Offender Reporting) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 gives effect to that commitment by increasing the
Review of the Child Protection Act 1999 In July 2013, the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry released its report, Taking Responsibility: A Road Map for Queensland Child Protection. The Commission of Inquiry found that the child protection system was under immense stress and made 121 recommendations aimed at building a sustainable and effective child protection system over the next decade. In December 2013, the then Quee
Student Protection Reports - system error transmitting reports On 30 July 2015, the Department of Education and Training (DET) became aware of a specific system error which resulted in certain student protection reports not being transmitted to the Queensland Police Service (QPS). As a result of this coding error, over the period from 18 January to 30 July 2015, 644 student protection reports were not transmitted to QPS. Further investigations were undertake
Review of the Child Protection Offender Prohibition Order Act 2008 In June 2013 the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) undertook a statutory review of the Child Protection (Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2008 (CPOPO Act) focusing on the first five years of operation of the Act. The review sought to determine how the CPOPO Act had operated in practice between 2008 and 2013, and to what extent the Act had achieved its purpose by providing for the protection of
Appointment of members to the Child Death Case Review Panel On 1 July 2012, the Queensland Government established the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (the Commission), which was tasked with reviewing the entire child protection system and to chart a new roadmap for child protection for the next decade. On 1 July 2013, the Commission released its final report, ‘Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection’. The Commissi
Child and family legislation reform program On 1 July 2013, the Commission of Inquiry released its report Taking Responsibility: A Road Map for Queensland Child Protection. The Commission of Inquiry confirmed the child protection system is under immense stress and made 121 recommendations aimed at addressing the risk of systemic failure, and building a sustainable and effective child protection system over the next decade. In December 2013
Review of OneSchool Student Protection Reporting system error On 30 July 2015, the Department of Education and Training (DET) became aware of a system failure which resulted in certain student protection reports not being transmitted to the Queensland Police Service (QPS). From 19 January to 30 July 2015, 644 student protection reports were not transmitted to QPS. Upon learning of the system failure, the Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Majo
Supporting Families Changing Futures - advancing Queensland child protection and family support reforms The Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry released its report, Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection on 1 July 2013. The Government committed to continue implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations and has reviewed the child and family reforms and identified opportunities to build on the foundations laid by the Commission of Inquiry recommenda
Limitations of Actions (Institutional Child Sexual Abuse) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse identified that one of the most significant barriers for victims seeking justice was that they were unable to meet the limitation periods within which to commence their claims. The Royal Commission considered that states and territory Governments should remove any limitation periods. The Limitations of Actions (Institutional C
Child Protection Reform Amendment Bill 2016 and Director of Child Protection Litigation Bill 2016 In 2013, the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry made 121 recommendations to transform the existing child protection system. The Queensland Government is implementing legislative amendments to respond to the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations in three stages. The Child Protection Reform Amendment Bill 2016 (CPRA Bill) and the Director of Child Protection Litigation Bill 2016 (D
Child Protection (Mandatory Reporting - Masons Law) Amendment Bill 2016 The Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC), in its report Review of Child Protection Mandatory Reporting Laws for the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector, recommended that child protection mandatory reporting provisions in the Child Protection Act 1999 (CPA) be expanded to apply to particular professionals working in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. The Queensland Gover
Queensland Family and Child Commission report into Queensland children missing from out-of-home-care - When a child is missing Remembering Tiahleigh On 30 October 2015, Tiahleigh Palmer, a 12 year old girl in out-of-home-care, went missing and on 5 November 2015, she was found deceased. Six days elapsed after Tiahleigh was last seen before a media release was issued to seek public information. On 10 November 2015, the Premier and Minister for the Arts wrote to the Queensland Family and Child Commission requesting a whole-of-government systems
Appointment of Director of Child Protection Litigation Section 7 of the Director of Child Protection Litigation Act 2016 (the Act) states there is to be a Director of Child Protection Litigation. The Director’s main functions under the Child Protection Act 1999 are to: prepare and apply for child protection orders and conduct protection proceedings; prepare and apply for transfers of a child protection order or child protection to a participating Sta
Appointment of Commissioner of Queensland Family and Child Commission The Family and Child Commission Act 2014 provides for the appointment of Commissioners of the Queensland Family and Child Commission. The functions of a Commissioner includes to ensure the Commission performs its functions under the Act effectively and efficiently and to make recommendations to the Minister about matters relating to the performance or exercise of the functions and powers of the
Child Protection (Offender Reporting) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 The Government will introduce new legislation to give effect to recommendations made by the Crime and Corruption Commission through its review of the Child Protection (Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2008 (CPOPOA). The Child Protection (Offender Reporting) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 introduces a holistic response to reportable offender management, streamlines the administration of t
The next chapter in child protection legislation for Queensland The 2013 Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry report, Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection, made 121 recommendations for achieving shared responsibility for supporting families and keeping children safe. The Queensland Government response accepted those recommendations and is continuing to progress a wide-ranging reform program for the child protection and
Queensland Family and Child Commission assessment of agency reviews into circumstances surrounding the death of a child On 11 July 2016, following the tragic death of 21 month old Mason Jet Lee, the Premier and Minister for the Arts wrote to the Principal Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC), requesting the QFCC work with all agencies reviewing their contact with Mason and his family to ensure the reviews were undertaken in a speedy and thorough manner. The circumstances of the death of Mason
Report on review of the Blue Card System In Queensland, the blue card system is governed by the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (the Act) and complements other laws which aim to keep children safe. The blue card system is comprised of two elements: the ‘blue card’ or working with children check; and the requirement for organisations to develop and implement child and youth risk management strategies. The Qu
Report on review of the Foster Care System In September 2016, the Premier and Minister for the Arts announced that an Expert Panel would work with the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) to conduct a review of the Blue Card and Foster Care Systems. The QFCC submitted the report, Keeping Queensland’s Children More Than Safe: Review of the Foster Care System (the Report). The Report concludes that the foster care system generall
Implementation of Queensland Family and Child Commission Report into Queensland children missing from out-of-home care and Supplementary Review On 11 July 2016, the Premier and Minister for the Arts publicly released the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) report When a Child is missing – Remembering Tiahleigh – A report into Queensland’s children missing from out-of-home care (the When a Child is Missing report), and the Government committed to implement all 29 recommendations of the report. As required in recommendation 28 in
A Reportable Conduct Scheme for Queensland - Oversight for the conduct of organisations and their employees in responding to child abuse A Reportable Conduct Scheme provides consistency to, and oversees, how allegations of child abuse and neglect are handled by organisations and Government departments. Reportable conduct is usually defined as including sexual misconduct or offences, assault or ill-treatment of a child, and any behaviour that causes psychological harm to a child. Queensland will work with other jurisdictions to pr
Appointment of members to Child Death Case Review Panel In response to the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry, a revised system of reviewing the involvement of the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (DCCSDS) with particular children who have died or suffered serious physical injury commenced on 1 July 2014. The system includes a review by the chief executive and a further independent review by a panel of app
Apelt Review of Child Safety Services - Strengthening capacity across Queensland’s Child Protection System In September 2016, the Premier and Minister for Arts announced that an Expert Panel would work with the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) to conduct a review of the Blue Card and Foster Care Systems. As part of this review, the Premier and Minister for the Arts announced that Ms Linda Apelt, former Director-General, Queensland Department of Communities, as a member of the Expert Panel
Review of the Child Protection Act 1999 The 2013 Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry report, Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection, made 121 recommendations for achieving shared responsibility for supporting for supporting families and keeping children safe. The Queensland Government response accepted those recommendations and is continuing to progress a wide-ranging reform program for the child
Government Response to Final Report of Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission) was established in January 2013 to inquire into and report on institutional responses to allegations and incidents of child sexual abuse and related matters and to make recommendations on laws, policies and practices to better protect children from sexual abuse in institutions. The Royal Commission final
Progress and directions with Child and Family Reform Significant progress has been made reforming the family support and child protection system in Queensland since the 2013 Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry’s final report Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection. The ten year reform program implements the government response to the Inquiry and to the recommendations of other reviews of the family support and
Government response to the Queensland Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce Report The Queensland Government is committed to leading the anti-cyberbullying agenda in Australia. Cyberbullying is a serious and complex issue. The Queensland Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce, chaired by Ms Madonna King, was announced on 19 February 2018. The Taskforce undertook extensive state-wide consultation with key stakeholders and the Queensland community. The Taskforce reported to the Premier and
First Annual Implementation Report - Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission) presented its final report to governments on 15 December 2017. The Final Report made 409 recommendations, across the Final Report, and three prior reports on Working with Children Checks, Redress and Civil Litigation and Criminal Justice. The Premier and Minister for Trade tabled the Queensland Governme
Third Annual Report - Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse The Queensland Government is committed to continuing to implement the significant reform agenda proposed by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission). This includes better prevention and responses to child sexual abuse and improved support and access to justice for those with lived experience of institutional child sexual abuse. The Queensland Gover
Appointment Principal Commissioner to the Queensland Family and Child Commission The Queensland Family and Child Commission (the Commission) is established under section 6 of the Family and Child Commission Act 2014 (the Act). The Commission’s functions involve promoting the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children and young people. Section 11 of the Act provides that two Commissioners are to be appointed to the Commission by the Governor in Council. The functions of a
Government fourth annual progress report – Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse The Queensland Government is committed to continuing to implement the significant reform agenda proposed by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission). This includes better prevention and responses to child sexual abuse and improved support and access to justice for those with lived experience of institutional child sexual abuse. The Queensland Gover
Queensland Government Response to the inaugural Child Death Review Board Annual Report 2020-21 The Child Death Review Board (the Board) was established on 1 July 2020 under the Family and Child Commission Act 2014 (Qld). The Board’s establishment followed the Queensland Government’s commitment to implementing a refined and independent model for reviewing the deaths of children connected to the child protection system in response to the Queensland Family and Child Commission’s (QFCC) recomme
Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 The Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (the Bill) seeks to ensure the legislative framework which underpins the child protection registry scheme remains contemporary, accounts for changes in offending patterns and is continually improved to enhance its ability to protect the lives and sexual safety of children. The Bill am
Government response to Legal Affairs and Safety Committee Report No 38 The Legal Affairs and Safety Committee (the Committee) tabled its Report No. 38: Examination of the Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2021 (LASC Report No. 38) on 31 October 2022. The Working with Children (Indigenous Communities) Amendment Bill 2021 (Private Member’s Bill) proposes amendments to the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 to enab