Queensland

Local Legislation

The Department of Child Safety is responsible for overseeing and upholding child protection in Queensland. Numerous Acts (laws) help to govern and guide the process of child protection. These acts include:

Principal Acts:

Other relevant Acts:

  • Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act 2000
  • Education (General Provisions) Act 2006
  • Public Health Act 2005
  • Adoption of Children Act 1964
  • Family Law Act 1975

For more information on the legislative context of child protection in Queensland, visit the Legislation section of The Department of Child Safety website.

Reporting Child Abuse

What is reportable?

Outcomes or actions from which children are in need of protection include; neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence and psychological harm. These are all reportable offences.

What are reasonable grounds?

You do not need to have proof to report any concerns you have about the safety of a child under 16. Indicators that represent reasonable grounds to report a suspected offence include:

  • A child or young person discloses that he or she has suffered or is suffering non accidental physical injury or sexual abuse
  • Someone else advises you that a child or young person has been sexually abused or non-accidentally injured, or
  • Your own observations of the child or young person's physical condition or behaviours lead you to reasonably suspect that the child or young person has suffered or is suffering non-accidental physical injury or sexual abuse.

For more information, download the Speak Up Guide or call or email one of our qualified staff at Child Wise.

What is mandatory reporting and who is mandated to report suspected abuse?
Mandatory reporting describes the legal obligation of certain professionals and community members to report incidences of child sexual abuse. These people are called "mandated reporters". If the mandated reporters fail to report they may be fined and/or incarcerated.

Section 148 (1) in the Child Protection Act 1999 states that:

If a responsible person becomes aware, or reasonably suspects, that harm has been caused to a child placed in the care of an entity conducting a departmental care service or a licensee, the person must, unless the person has reasonable excuse, report the harm, or suspected harm, to the chief executive immediately.

People that are required to report child protection concerns include:

  • an authorised office or employee of the department
  • a person employed in a departmental care service or licensed care service
  • staff of the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian
  • a doctor or registered nurse who becomes aware, or reasonably suspects during the practice of his or her profession that a child has been, is being or is likely to be harmed
  • family court personnel and counsellors

For more information on mandatory reporting of all state and territories go to http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs3/rs3.html

Who to report to and how
If you need to report an offence that requires immediate police attention, please call:

Police: 000

Queensland Police Service has a number of child protection and investigation units across Queensland. Click here to find the nearest Queensland Police Service to you.

If you suspect on reasonable grounds that a child is suffering abuse or neglect or you wish to discuss your concerns about a child or young person, you should telephone:

Child Safety Services:

1800 811 810 (during normal business hours)

1800 177 135 or 07 3235 9999 (for after hours and on weekends. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Further details on reporting abuse can also be found on the Reporting Child Abuse section of the Department of Child Safety website.

There are also Support Services across Queensland that can assist and advise you through the process of making a report, and beyond.

Support Services Directory

  • Child Protection Services & Police
  • Hospitals
  • Legal Services
  • Sexual Assault Services
  • Counselling
  • Domestic Violence
  • Men's Services
  • Crisis/Housing Services
  • Indigenous Services

 

Child Protection Services & Police

Department of Child Safety www.childsafety.qld.gov.au
Business Hours 07 3224 8045 or 1800 811 810
After Hours 07 3235 9999 or 1800 177 135
Queensland Police Service Headquarters 07 3364 6464

Commission for Children and Young People 1800 688 275

NAPCAN (National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) 07 3369 7233 www.napcan.org.au

Families Youth & Community Care
Brisbane Metro 07 3224 8045
Outside Metro 1800 811 810

After Hours and Emergency Crisis Care
Brisbane Metro 07 3235 9999
Outside Metro 1800 177 135
National Crime Prevention Sexual Assault Services
Brisbane (business hours) 07 3391 0004
Brisbane (after business hours) 07 3000 0000

Country QLD (24 Hours) 1800 010 120
Far North QLD/Cairns 07 4031 3590

Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 www.crimestoppers.com.au

Hospitals

Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane: Sexual Assault Service 07 3636 5206

Legal Services

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service 07 3221 1448 or 1800 012 255 www.atsils.com.au

Caxton Legal Centre 07 3254 1811 www.caxton.org.au

Dispute Resolution Centre 07 3239 6007
Outside Brisbane 1800 017 288

Mediation (Relationships Australia) 07 3349 5111 www.relationships.com.au

Protect All Children Today (PACT): Child Witness Program 07 3290 0111 www.pact.org.au

Family Court of Australia 07 3248 2200 www.familycourt.gov.au

Legal Aid Queensland 1300 651 188 www.legalaid.qld.gov.au

Women's Legal Service 07 3392 0670
Outside Brisbane 1800 677 278 www.wlsq.org.au

National Association of Community Legal Centres www.naclc.org.au

Justice Journey www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
An online pathway through the NSW court system for victims and other witnesses. The information although specific to NSW is useful wherever you are in Australia. The site can help by giving you information about the legal process and letting you know what to expect in court. It is a child and parent friendly resource.

Australian Institute of Criminology www.aic.gov.au

Counselling

Bravehearts www.bravehearts.org.au
Head Office: 07 3290 4474
Gold Coast 1800 114 474 Victoria (Advocacy) 03 9431 4781
Western Australia 08 9757 33559

Centacare 07 3252 4371 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              07 3252 4371      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
www.centacarebrisbane.net.au

Kinections 07 3435 4300 www.kinections.com.au

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 www.kidshelp.com.au

Lifeline 131 114
www.lifeline.org.au

Parentline 1300 30 1300 www.parentline.com.au

Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 www.relationships.com.au

Salvo Care Line 07 3831 9016
Outside Brisbane 1300 363 622 www.salvos.org.au

Talera Centre Counselling 07 33977287

Victims of Crime (Relationships Australia) 1300 364 277
www.relationships.com.au

Esther Centre 07 3844 3677
www.esther.merivale.org.au
The Esther Centre provides support for people who have experienced physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse in church institutions, faith communities and human services.

Zig Zag Young Women's Support Centre 07 3843 1823 www.zigzag.org.au

Sexual Assault Services

Abused Child Trust - Counselling 07 3857 8866 www.abusedchildtrust.com.au

Advocates for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (ASCA) 07 3321 1151 www.asca.org.au

Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivor Support Centre (24 hours) 07 3391 0004 www.brissc.com.au

Gold Coast Sexual Assault Support Service 07 5591 1164

Immigrant Women's Support Service (Sexual Assault) 07 3846 5400 www.iwss.org.au

Statewide Sexual Assault Service 1800 010 120

Women working along side with Intellectual & Learning Disabilities Sexual Violence Prevention (WWILD) 07 3262 9877 www.wwild.org

Zig Zag Sexual Assault Service 07 3843 1823 www.zigzag.org.au

Domestic Violence

DV Connect Womensline 1800 811 811

DV Connect Mensline 1800 600 636 www.dvconnect.org

Men's Services

Men Affected by Rape And Sexual Assault (MARS) 07 3857 1222 www.marsaustralia.org

Men's Information and Support 07 3889 7312 www.misc.com.au

Men's Line 1300 78 99 78 www.menslineaus.org.au

 

Crisis/Housing Services

Crisis Care (Brisbane): child safety after hours service centre 07 3235 9999
Outside Brisbane 1800 177 135

Indigenous Services

Aboriginal & Islander Community Health Service 07 3393 0055 www.aichs.org.au

Gallang Place: Counselling Service 07 3844 2283 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Indigenous Sexual Health Service (Biala) 07 3227 6509

Indigenous Youth Health Service 07 3891 6060

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kummara Indigenous Family Support 07 3846 5654 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it