Reportable Conduct Scheme

Queensland’s Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 introduces a system to protect children from harm in organisational settings. The system comprises Child Safe Standards, which aim to create environments that prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children, and a Reportable Conduct Scheme, which enables an appropriate response if harm or misconduct occurs. These two parts work together to effectively safeguard children’s safety.

The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires organisations to report and investigate allegations or convictions of child abuse or child-related misconduct (reportable conduct) made about their workers and volunteers. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recommended every state and territory introduce a Reportable Conduct Scheme. This was intended to improve the way organisations across Australia manage risks and allegations of harm and to ensure consistent and transparent responses across sectors.

What is reportable conduct?

Reportable conduct includes:

• a child sexual offence
• sexual misconduct committed in relation to, or in the presence of a child
• ill-treatment of a child
• significant neglect of a child
• physical violence committed in relation to, or in the presence of a child, or
• behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child.

Reportable conduct may occur once or repeatedly. Conduct may be reportable if it occurs outside the workplace. The Reportable Conduct Scheme applies even when the conduct does not result in criminal charges.

Who does it apply to?

Organisations required to implement a Reportable Conduct Scheme include:

• government entities
• child protection, justice and detention services
• education and health services, and services for children with disability
• early childhood education and care services
• accommodation and residential services
• religious bodies.

More information about these categories is available on our Timeline webpage.

What are organisations required to do?

Organisations must have systems in place to:

• prevent reportable conduct by workers
• enable anyone to notify the head of the organisation about a concern or allegation of reportable conduct
• report concerns about the head of the organisation directly to us
• investigate and respond to concerns or allegations of reportable conduct.

This is the responsibility of the head of the organisation, such as the Chief Executive Officer or equivalent role.

Click image to enlarge 

Workers of reporting entities must report allegations or convictions to the head of their entity (for example, a Chief Executive Officer) or directly to us if the allegation involves the head of the entity. After the head of the entity becomes aware of the allegation, they must notify us through an initial report within three business days. Any criminal matters must be reported directly to police.

Reporting entities must have systems in place to prevent reportable conduct by workers and to enable anyone to notify the head of an entity about a concern. They must also have a process for allowing people to report concerns about the head of the entity directly to us and for investigating and responding to allegations.

Heads of reporting entities must investigate allegations and provide an opportunity for the worker to respond. If the investigation is complete within 30 business days of the head of the entity becoming aware of the allegation, a final report must be provided to us. If the investigation is not complete within 30 business days, we must be provided with an interim report, followed by a final report as soon as practical after the investigation concludes. Reports must detail findings, any actions taken, and any improvements to child safeguarding systems in the organisation that have been made as a result of the investigation.

When does the Reportable Conduct Scheme commence?

The Reportable Conduct Scheme comes into effect from 1 July 2026 in a staged approach, with all organisations required to comply by 1 July 2027. For more information, visit our Timeline webpage.

Compliance

We will administer, monitor and enforce compliance with the Reportable Conduct Scheme, when it comes into effect. Our functions and powers under the law are detailed in our Regulatory Approach.

Failure to report can result in the head of an organisation receiving a financial penalty of $16,690 (100 penalty units) and details can be recorded on a public register.

Last updated
26 August 2025