Child Safe Organisation

We are a child safe organisation. This means we put children's safety, wellbeing, and best interests first. We work to keep children safe from harm by following 10 child safe standards. We also make sure our practices follow the core Universal Principal to promote and uphold Aboriginal and Torrres Strait Islander children’s right to cultural safety.

What is a Child Safe Organisation?

The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (CSO Act) is a law that helps protect all children. It was created after the Royal Commission looked at how institutions responded to child sexual abuse.

The CSO Act sets out:

• 10 Child Safe Standards – rules that guide how organisations keep children safe
• the Universal Principle – a core rule that supports the Child Safe Standards
• child safe entities – organisations captured under the Act that must implement the Child Safe Standards
• a Reportable Conduct Scheme – a framework for reporting and responding to allegations about workers' behaviour towards children
• reporting entities – organisations that must report certain matters
• sector regulators – regulate the provision of child safe services.

The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) is the organisation that oversees the Child Safe Standards framework and regulates the Reportable Conduct Scheme. For the latest information about the CSO Act, visit the QFCC website.

The CSO Act applies to Queensland Government departments and other entities providing child specific services.

The providers of transport services, specifically for children, became compliant with the Act in April 2026.

Child specific services in scope include:

• school safety – school crossing supervisors
• road and marine – safety education
• rail – safety education
• school transport – including buses and Specialist School Transport for students with a disability
• personalised transport – where services are delivered specifically for children (for example, Specialist School Transport, taxis and rideshare)
• excursions – chartered transport for school trips.

What this means for department

As a child safe organisation, we must:

• apply the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle across the department, proportionate to the level of contact with children.
• implement the Reportable Conduct Scheme from 1 July 2026.
• work to stop, recognise, and respond to inappropriate behaviour (reportable conduct).
• report reportable allegations and convictions to the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC).

Sector regulator

We are a sector regulator for transport providers that deliver services specifically for children.

As a sector regulator, we support child safety through our existing regulatory and operational functions, including:

• setting standards for safe services
• monitoring compliance
• accrediting operators and authorising drivers
• running the school crossing scheme to help children cross roads safely
• providing education programs and resources
• supporting transport providers to understand and meet their obligations under the Child Safe Standards

Sometimes, multiple sector regulators may have a role depending on the service being delivered (for example, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and the Department of Education).

Sector regulators set standards, monitor compliance, and support compliance with the Child Safe Standards and safe, compliant service delivery.

If your services require Operator Accreditation or Driver Authorisation, the department may act as your sector regulator. You may also have other regulators, like the Department of Education.

Reportable conduct scheme

From 1 July 2026, the Reportable Conduct Scheme establishes requirements for how organisations must respond if a worker is the subject of a reportable allegation.

The scheme ensures these matters are reported, assessed and responded to appropriately, including reporting certain matters to the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC).

More details will be shared closer to when the scheme begins.

What we are doing

We are preparing for the new law by:

• updating policies and procedures to follow the Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle
• training staff on their responsibilities
• helping transport providers understand and meet their responsibilities
• sharing updates and resources online.

What transport providers need to know

Who it applies to

You may be a child safe entity if you provide transport services specifically for children. This may include:

• dedicated school bus or ferry services under contract with the TMR
• specialist transport for students with disability (buses or taxis)
• SEQ Urban or Regional Urban Bus services where dedicated school transport services are provided
• private school transport arrangements
• chartered transport for school excursions
• transport services provided to schools or childcare centres.

How to comply

If you provide transport services specifically for children, you must apply the Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle across your organisation. For example, if you operate both public and school bus services, the standards apply across your organisation, including services not directly delivered to children.

To help you understand and apply the Child Safe Standards in your organisation, TMR has developed guidance for transport providers Complying with child safe standards as a transport provider | Business Queensland.

Learn more

Learn more about Child Safe Organisations on the QFCC website.