The journey

In 2014, we started a 10-year journey. A really important one to make sure all Queensland kids are safe and well.

So much has already been done. But there’s still more to do. And everyone has a part to play to make our families stronger, our communities more supportive and our child and family support system the best it can be.

What is the journey How can you help?

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In 2014, the Queensland Government began building a new child protection and family support system, following the recommendations made by the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry.

Regional Child and Family Committees formed to implement the child and family reforms at a regional level.

The Office of Public Guardian and Queensland Family and Child Commission were established.

The Talking Families community awareness campaign was launched to encourage families to ask for help and support with parenting.

The Strengthening Families Protecting Children Framework for Practice was developed to improve the way child protection services are provided to children and families in the tertiary system.

The first 7 Family and Child Connect services opened to connect vulnerable families to the right services at the right time.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cadetship Program was established for Indigenous university students to become child safety officers.

Next Step After Care was launched to support young people up to 21 years old who have left care and need help.

The Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland presented its final report Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland to the Queensland Government.

The next 6 Family and Child Connect services opened.

Statewide public consultation commenced on the review of the Child Protection Act 1999.

The oneplace community services directory was released as a resource for Queensland parents, young people and the community to find local support services.

Consultation commenced on the Strengthening our Sector Strategy to grow and develop organisations and their workforce, and create a positive culture for the sector to work together.

The first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family and Child Connect service opened in Brisbane.

The Queensland Government released its first 5 commitments to change the way child protection, family support and other services work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

The Hope and Healing Framework was endorsed to improve the quality of residential care provided to young people who need therapeutic support.

The next 2 Family and Child Connect services opened.

The Office of the Child and Family Official Solicitor was established to provide legal support and assist child safety officers prepare for court.

A new independent body called the Director of Child Protection Litigation was established to apply for child protection orders and enable children and families to have legal representation in court.

The Strengthening our Sector Strategy and First Action Plan was released.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme began rolling out in Queensland to help people with disabilities meet their support needs.

A new resource Finding out about child protection in Queensland was published to help young people understand the child protection system.

The statewide rollout of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Services commenced.

The Review of the Blue Card and foster care system options papers were released to strengthen safeguards for vulnerable children.

The final 2 Family and Child Connect services opened.

The Our Way: A generational strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families was released to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous children in out-of-home care.

A multi-agency action plan was commenced to give children and young people in out-of-home care priority access to government services.

Early childhood education and care professionals became mandated by law to report child protection concerns.

The What’s Next Out-of-Home Care Fund was established to give young people leaving care access to vocational education and training.

The Queensland Parliament passed the Child Protection Reform Amendment Act 2017 to provide permanency and stability for children, and the safe care and connection of Indigenous children to family, culture and community.

The Second Action Plan for Strengthening our Sector was released.

33 Family Wellbeing Services opened across Queensland to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the child protection system.

Campaign to curb supply of the drug Ice and treat those who need help is part of $100 million Action on Ice plan.

A number of child protection legislation reforms come into effect.

Queensland First Children and Families Board established as part of government’s commitment to closing the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Completed the Implementation Evaluation of the first three years of the reform program.

Cheryl Vardon, Principal Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission

Create Foundation

Michael Hogan, Director-General, Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women

Belinda Drew, CEO, Community Services Industry Alliance

Phillip Brooks, Commissioner, Queensland Family and Child Commission

Mark Henley, Queensland Council of Social Service

Rob Ryan, CEO, Asia Pacific, Key Assets

Sunshine Coast Local Level Alliance, Act for Kids

What is the journey?

The journey began after the review of the Queensland child protection system in 2012. The review delivered recommendations to build a better child and family support system and charted a 10 year roadmap to deliver these improvements.

How did the journey start?

2012	The Queensland Child Protection Commission (the Commission) of Inquiry was set up to review the Queensland child protection system and chart a 10 year roadmap to better the system.
2013	The final report, Taking Responsibility: A Roadmap for Queensland Child Protection, was given to the Queensland Government to consider the Commission’s 121 recommendations. The government accepted 115 recommendations and gave in-principle support to 6.
2014	Queensland Government started working on the recommendations.

QFCC is playing our part in making Queensland’s child and family support system the best it can be. To find out more visit the QFCC-responsible recommendations page.

To see what has been achieved so far visit the Supporting families, changing futures Achievements page.

Keeping kids more than safe and protecting children is everybody’s business.

Join our Talking Families Facebook community for tips, support and ideas to help families. You can also visit our protecting children resource which provides professionals and the community with the information they need to keep children more than safe.

The journey

What is the journey?

How did the journey start?

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