Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme is an important step forward for child safety
A significant reform for Queensland organisations
On 1 July 2026, Queensland introduced its Reportable Conduct Scheme, establishing a new, consistent state-wide approach to reporting and responding to allegations of abuse and misconduct by workers in organisations that care for, supervise, or exercise authority over children. The Scheme is a significant reform that strengthens child safety and brings Queensland into line with other Australian states and territories that have implemented reportable conduct schemes.
“Every child should be safe no matter where they are, and every parent and carer should have confidence in the systems in place to care for their children.”
The Reportable Conduct Scheme improves how organisations manage allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards children. The Queensland Family and Child Commission describes it as a reform that helps ensure concerns are taken seriously, investigated appropriately, and recorded in a way that can help prevent future harm.
The Scheme forms part of a broader package of reforms following the Queensland Government's response to In Plain Sight: Review into System Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which recommended measures to strengthen child safeguarding, improve coordination across agencies, and enhance protections for children and young people.
Strengthening child safeguarding
Child safeguarding is not only about responding when harm has already occurred. It also relies on having strong systems in place to identify concerns early, respond appropriately, and reduce risks before they escalate.
One of the most important features of the Scheme is that it helps address behaviour that may not reach the threshold for police action but may still indicate a risk to children. The QFCC says the Scheme plays a critical role in identifying concerning behaviour, connecting information across organisations and sectors, and strengthening the overall safety net around children.
What the Scheme asks of organisations
For organisations, this is both a compliance change and a cultural one. It asks leaders to be clear about responsibility, to have systems ready, and to make sure concerns are handled with care, fairness and urgency. Under the legislation, the head of the organisation, usually the CEO or equivalent, is responsible for ensuring the organisation complies, even where functions are delegated to an appropriately qualified person.
Under the Scheme, organisations need systems in place to:
Prevent reportable conduct by workers
Support the reporting of concerns
Investigate reportable allegations and reportable convictions
Report key information to the Commission
Make sure immediate risks to children are identified and managed from the moment a concern is raised
The reporting timeframes are clear. An initial notification must be made to the Commission within 3 business days of the head of the entity or delegate becoming aware of a reportable allegation or conviction. An interim report is due within 30 business days of becoming aware of the allegation or conviction, and a final report must be provided as soon as practicable once the investigation is complete.
The QFCC guidance also makes clear that the Scheme does not replace other reporting obligations. If a matter also needs to be reported to police, a regulator, or under mandatory reporting requirements, those obligations still apply. Organisations need to understand how the new Scheme fits alongside existing legal and regulatory responsibilities.
The quality of the response matters
Just as importantly, the guidance emphasises the quality of the response. Investigations should be timely, child-centred, evidence-based and procedurally fair. Risk management should be proportionate and regularly reviewed. Support should be offered to all children involved, their families and affected staff.
This is an important reminder that good safeguarding is not only about process. It is also about trust, dignity and the way an organisation responds in difficult moments.
Getting Ready
For organisations this is an opportunity to:
Review policies and codes of conduct
Confirm who will hold responsibility as head of the entity or delegate
Strengthen internal reporting pathways
Checking investigation capability, and
Make sure leaders understand the Scheme’s reporting requirements and timeframes.
Reflect on internal capability to manage a complex matters well, including access to fair, independent and trauma-informed investigation processes, clear screening and recruitment practices, and a safeguarding culture that supports early reporting and accountability.
The QFCC has published implementation guidance, templates and webinar resources to support organisations getting ready.
How Kooyoora can help
We are an independent, not-for-profit professional standards body specialising in child safe, trauma-informed investigations and complaint management. We support organisations to meet safeguarding, governance and regulatory obligations through trauma-informed investigations, pre-employment screening, redress, training and capacity building, with a strong human rights lens and prevention focus.
Our complaints and investigations services help organisations respond through processes that are fair, independent and impartial.
We also support organisations through pre-employment screening and clearances. Our OSCA platform is designed to streamline police and reference checks, provide real-time information on clearance status, automate renewals and notifications, and support safer recruitment practices for organisations working with children and other vulnerable groups.
We also offer training, professional standards services, an independent redress scheme, counselling and prevention-focused support to help strengthen safeguarding capability over time. Our prevention work is designed to help organisations identify cultural risks, reflect meaningfully on practice, and build safer environments that go beyond policy compliance alone.
“Our team has expertise in supporting organisations to strengthen their professional standards, safeguarding and complaint response systems. We've weathered storms and learned lessons, and I'll tell you this for nothing: your complaints reporting and investigation system MUST be proactive and independent. Don't wait until it goes wrong.” Rachel Drysdale - Kooyoora Director of Professional Standards”
You can find more about our services for organisations here.