What we do
We work to ensure Queensland’s children are empowered and respected and they have their rights upheld.
We influence systemic change by assessing the child protection system’s performance, collaborating for impact, and amplifying the voices of Queensland’s children and their families. We do this in six ways:
- We monitor performance and identify changes that improve outcomes for children and their families.
- We produce authoritative analysis of complex social issues focused on generating awareness and solutions.
- We enable children, families and communities to contribute to discussions and decisions that impact their lives.
- We protect and promote child rights by building an everyday accountability for child rights.
- We support, connect and collaborate with organisations that advance the safety, rights and wellbeing of children.
- We value and invest in staff and continuously improve our systems and structures.
Under our legislation, we do not have the jurisdiction to investigate individual children’s and families’ circumstances.
If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm or being neglected, contact the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs' Child Safety Services Centres and talk to someone about your concerns:
- During normal business hours - contact the Regional Intake Service.
- After hours and on weekends - contact the Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on 1800 177 135. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have a complaint about a child safety matter, contact the Queensland Ombudsman.
Statement on the rights of a child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international agreement on childhood. It includes 54 rights that every child is entitled to enjoy, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.
These rights are broad, touching almost every aspect of a child’s life, right from birth. Examples of child rights include the right to life, survival and development; the right to protection from violence abuse or neglect; the right to an education that meet their needs; the right to an upbringing or relationship with their parents; and the right to express their opinions and be listened to.
Children’s rights are at the core of everything we do.
We bring these rights to life by raising awareness of and advocating for the rights of children and young people in Queensland and holding governments accountable to upholding these rights. As a rights-based organisation, we do this by upholding the four core principals of the UNCRC:
- non-discrimination
- devotion to the best interests of the child
- the right to life, survival and development
- respect for the views of the child.