What to look for in a child safe organisation

Every child has the right to be safe

Queensland’s child safeguarding law works to protect children from harm when they interact with businesses and organisations. Visit our Child Safe Organisations webpages to learn more about the new Act.

The Child Safe Standards aim to create environments that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children. Visit our Child Safe Standards webpage to find out more.

They apply to around 40,000 businesses and organisations across Queensland, including state government departments, local councils, and those working in:

• early childhood education and care – including daycare and out of school hours care (OSHC)
• health, education and disability support – including hospital and health services, schools, and NDIS providers
• child protection and youth justice
• community sector – including neighbourhood centres and youth support services
• accommodation and transport – including boarding facilities, crossing supervisors and driving instructors
• commercial services for children – including play centres, children’s photographers and party or entertainment services
• services for children – including sporting clubs, dance and theatre groups, and coaching or tutoring services.  

This means that most businesses and organisations your child interacts with will now need to be able to demonstrate they are child safe and meeting their obligations under the Standards.

What does this mean for you and your child?

The Child Safe Standards are now in place for organisations in Queensland. They will look different in every business and organisation, depending on how they interact with children. Regardless of how they implement the Standards, a child safe organisation will have children’s safety and wellbeing at the centre of everything they do. The safety of children involved in the organisation will be valued and prioritised by every worker and volunteer, from senior management to the frontline. The organisation will be open to feedback, transparent about concerns or issues relating to children’s safety, and able to explain how they create a safe environment for children and young people.

In a child safe organisation, you can expect to know:

• about the organisation’s child safeguarding policies and how they work to keep children safe
• about the staff Code of Conduct and what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour towards children
• how the organisation will uphold the rights of children and create a culturally safe and inclusive environment
• how to raise a concern or make a complaint, and understand how it will be handled, and how to escalate your concerns
• how the organisation will use information from complaints, surveys, and feedback sessions to continuously improve.  

You can expect to see:  

• workers showing kindness and respect in the way they work with and talk to children
• a public commitment to children’s safety and wellbeing
• workers acting according to the Code of Conduct, and any breaches being addressed
• culturally safe complaints and feedback processes for First Nations and culturally diverse children and families
• information in different formats to aid accessibility and different communication needs
• physical environments that do not offer opportunities for children to be harmed – for example, where children and supervisors are visible at all times
• feedback gathered from children and families used to improve services, programs, processes and practices.

You can expect to be able to:

• raise a concern with any staff member, and have them know what to do, to talk you through the next steps, and to help you keep your child safe
• know your child would feel safe to raise a concern, and that if they did it would be taken seriously and acted upon
• decide if and how your child’s image is shared, and have your decision respected
• be provided with opportunities to provide feedback on the organisation’s services and programs.  

As a parent or carer, if something doesn’t feel right, you have the right to ask questions or raise concerns and know those concerns will be taken seriously.

You should raise it directly with the business or organisation in the first instance, if you feel safe to do so.

If you don’t feel safe, or if you don’t believe your concern was addressed, you can go to their head office, their relevant government department, or their sector regulator.

You can also make a report to us if you believe a business or organisation isn’t meeting their obligations under the Child Safe Organisations law.