For Queensland organisations, the new child safe requirements are no longer something coming down the track. They’re here. If your church or ministry is in Queensland, you’re now operating under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024.
That might bring a mix of feelings: relief that the wait is over, a bit of “have we done enough?”, or a quiet suspicion that some things are still sitting on the to-do list. All of that is normal, and this post is a nudge to check in rather than a cause for alarm.
What's now in place
The Act brings two main things for religious bodies:
- Child Safe Standards. Ten standards that shape how an organisation approaches child safety across its whole culture and practice, not just within the children’s ministry team.
- The Reportable Conduct Scheme. A set of responsibilities for how organisations respond to certain allegations and concerns about reportable conduct, with the head of the organisation carrying specific obligations.
The two work alongside each other. They’re related, but they’re not the same thing, and one doesn’t replace the other.
The Queensland Family and Child Commission oversees the system.
The question that matters
The most useful question now is whether your safeguarding is working in everyday ministry, rather than whether you have a policy. A well-written policy that lives in a folder won’t help the volunteer who isn’t sure whether what they saw is serious enough to mention.
A quick check-in
Use this list as a conversation starter with your leadership team:
- Our Safe Ministry Policy is up to date, and people know where to find it.
- It has been communicated, not just sent. We’ve made sure people understand it and know what it means for their role.
- Our leaders understand their responsibilities, including under the Reportable Conduct Scheme. The people who receive and respond to concerns are identified and know what to do.
- Everyone knows how to recognise a concern and who to speak to, and they know they don’t need to be certain before speaking up.
- Children have a voice. There are ongoing, age-appropriate ways for them to share their views and experiences, and we act on what we hear.
- Our online spaces and digital communication are covered, not just what happens during a children’s program.
- We’ve thought about people who may be vulnerable, and whether we want our safeguarding to reach beyond the legal minimum.
- We have a date in the diary to review it, so we know whether our practices are working.
If you can tick most of these, you’re in good shape. If a few are blank, that tells you where to start.
Where to from here
Pick one or two gaps and make them this month’s focus. Progress beats perfection, and safeguarding is something an organisation keeps doing rather than something it finishes.
Why not check out the safeguarding quiz below to see how your organisation is doing?
This post offers general information only and isn’t legal advice. For the detail of your organisation’s obligations, visit the Queensland Family and Child Commission website.