The Child Death Review Board (the Board) completed its review into system responses to child sexual abuse in Queensland in December 2025, using the case of a convicted offender of child sexual abuse as a case study. The review made recommendations for improvements needed to the laws, policies, procedures and practices across the early childhood education and care, police and Blue Card systems.
The Queensland Government referred this matter to the Board in December 2024. The Board completed the review under section 29I of the Queensland Family and Child Commission Act 2014 (Qld). The final report was released on 8 December 2025.
We sincerely thank every victim-survivor, parent, carer, frontline worker, and child safeguarding expert who made a submission.
Warning
This report may cause distress for some people. It contains information relating to the incidence and prevalence of child sexual abuse, the motivations and behaviours of people who sexually abuse children, and outlines specific incidences of child sexual abuse. If you need support please refer to the services listed at the bottom of this webpage.
In Plain Sight: Review into System Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
In Plain Sight is the product of a 12-month review completed by the Board. The review examined System responses to child sexual abuse, with a focus on the early childhood education and care sector, police services, and the blue card system, using the matter of Ashley Paul Griffith as a case study.
The report is titled In Plain Sight because those who seek to harm children are too often operating openly in our community, visible to systems, neighbours and institutions, yet unseen for who they truly are and for the risk they pose to children.
Part F: Preventing child sexual abuse
Part F focuses on prevention of child sexual abuse. It discusses a whole of system approach to prevention, including education for children, parents and early childhood staff, and contextual prevention approaches to enhance the safety of early childhood education and care services.
The In Plain Sight podcast series examines the Child Death Review Board’s recent review of system responses to child sexual abuse.
Across seven episodes, we take you through the insights, findings and recommendations of the review, from the lived experience of children and families, through the blind spots in systems, the decisions made by institutions and people, and ultimately toward what prevention and reform must look like if we are serious about safeguarding the future.
We look at what we’ve learned and where we need to go from here.
Episode 1 - Childhood matters
This first episode sets the foundation. We begin with Part A of the report, which focuses on context — on childhood itself, and on the environments, children rely on for safety. It reminds us that children are not just recipients of services or subjects of policy. They are developing humans, shaped by relationships, stability, culture, and care.
Episode 1, part a: YouTube | Spotify
Episode 1, part b: YouTube | Spotify
Episode 2 - System blind spots and institutional dynamics
This episode, focuses on Part B of the report, shifts the lens to focus on the system itself: how concerns were identified, recorded, and responded to, how multiple agencies interacted or didn’t, and how warning signs, visible over time, failed to trigger the protections children are entitled to expect.
Episode 3 - When warnings were ignored
This episode, ‘When warnings were ignored’, looks at what Part C of the report tells us about decision-making under pressure, how risk was repeatedly misunderstood or minimised, and why children continued to be exposed to harm even after concerns were known.
Episode 3, part a: YouTube | Spotify
Episode 3, part b: YouTube | Spotify
Episode 3, part c: YouTube | Spotify
Reflections from the Board
Listen to Board members as they reflect on the review.
Queensland's child safeguarding system - how it has evolved
This video explores how Queensland's child safeguarding system has evolved.
1800RESPECT (24 hours): 1800 737 732
Sexual Assault Helpline: 1800 010 120
Lifeline (24 hours): 13 11 14
13YARN Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support (24 hours): 13 92 76
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Bravehearts: 1800 272 831
Victims Assist Queensland: 1300 546 587
Reporting allegations or suspicions of child sexual abuse
Every Queenslander has a responsibility to report child sexual abuse.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger or a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000).
You can report child sexual abuse to PoliceLink (24 Hours) on 131 444 and the Department of Child Safety.
Last updated:
24 February 2026