The Commission's submission to the Child Safety Commission of Inquiry argues that Queensland’s child protection system requires fundamental, system-wide reform rather than incremental change. It identifies persistent structural issues, including fragmented accountability, siloed information, and inconsistent oversight, that limit the system’s ability to respond effectively to risk and protect children. The submission emphasises that despite previous reforms, core challenges remain unresolved, particularly for children experiencing complex vulnerability, including those in out-of-home care and those interacting with multiple systems.
The submission proposes a set of “reset reforms” aimed at strengthening the system’s foundations. These focus on establishing a more integrated and transparent accountability framework, improving information sharing and intelligence across agencies, and clarifying roles and responsibilities across the system. A strong emphasis is placed on shifting from reactive, compliance-based responses to a model centred on early intervention, prevention, and continuous system learning. The Commission also highlights the need to better align decision-making authority with those closest to children, and to ensure oversight mechanisms work cohesively rather than in isolation.
Overall, the submission calls for a coordinated, whole-of-government approach that prioritises child safety as a shared responsibility. It underscores that meaningful reform will require cultural as well as structural change—supported by better data, transparency, and sustained investment—to create a system that is responsive, accountable, and capable of improving long-term outcomes for vulnerable children and families.