New obligations for driving schools under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024
The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (CSO Act) introduces new legal obligations for businesses and organisations that work with children or provide services or spaces for them.
What does this mean for me?
From 1 April 2026, organisations providing driver training to children (under 18 years old) must meet 10 Child Safe Standards and provide a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people—which in the law is known as the 'Universal Principle'.
This means that:
- if you are a sole trader that provides class C driver training to children, you must implement the standards from 1 April 2026
- if you work for an organisation that provides class C driver training to children, the organisation must implement the standards from 1 April 2026
- if your organisation does not provide services to children (for example, it only provides heavy vehicle or motorcycle training), the CSO Act does not apply.
You can find guidelines and toolkits to help you implement the standards, on the Queensland Family and Child Commission website.
In Queensland, you must be accredited as a driver trainer to provide pre-licence driver training for reward.
The requirement for accreditation as a driver trainer is in accordance with the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2015.
Making an application
If you live in Queensland and you want to apply to become an accredited driver trainer, you need to meet the following requirements.
Driver licence
You must meet the following requirements:
- hold a valid open driver’s licence from Australia or New Zealand for the vehicle class you want to train
- have held the licence for at least one full year right before applying.
Current training requirements
You must undertake and successfully complete the appropriate approved training course delivered by a registered training organisation for the vehicle class/es you wish to be accredited for.
Light vehicle classes (C and CA)
You must have either:
- TLI41222—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group A – Cars – valid for applications until 28 May 2027 with certificate dated before 28 May 2026)
or
- TLI41225—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group A – Cars – accepted from 28 May 2026)
or
- TLI41222—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group B Heavy Vehicles or group C Motorcycles – valid for applications until 28 May 2027 with certificate dated before 28 May 2026) plus TLISS00235— Car Motor Vehicle Driver Training Skill Set.
or
- TLI41225—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group B Heavy Vehicles or group C Motorcycles – accepted from 28 May 2026) plus TLISS00235—Car Motor Vehicle Driver Training Skill Set.
Heavy vehicle classes (to specified level)
You must have either:
- TLI41222—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group B—Heavy Vehicles) valid for applications until 28 May 2027 with certificate dated before 28 May 2026
or
- TLI41225—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group B—Heavy Vehicles – accepted from 28 May 2026)
or
- TLI41222—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group A Cars or group C Motorcycles – valid for applications until 28 May 2027 with certificate dated before 28 May 2026) plus TLISS00233— Heavy Vehicle Driver Training Skill Set.
or
- TLI41225—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group A Cars or group C Motorcycles – accepted from 28 May 2026) plus TLISS00233—Heavy Vehicle Driver Training Skill Set.
Note: Certificate of competency for Heavy Vehicle TLI41222 and TLI41225 and the Heavy Vehicle Skill set TLISS00233 must include one of the following competency units:
- TLIC2002—Drive light rigid vehicle
- TLIC3003—Drive medium rigid vehicle
- TLIC3004—Drive heavy rigid vehicle
- TLIC3005—Drive heavy combination vehicle
- TLIC4006—Drive multi-combination vehicle.
This competency unit must be listed on the qualification issued by the registered training organisation.
Motorcycle class (R class)
- TLI41222—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group C—Motorcycles) valid for applications until 28 May 2027 with certificate dated before 28 May 2026.
or
- TLI41225—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group C—Motorcycles – accepted from 28 May 2026)
or
- all 3 units of competency below:
- TLIC0035—Apply low-risk motorcycle riding behaviours
- TLIM0013—Conduct motorcycle rider training
- TLIM0020—Develop low-risk motorcycle riding behaviours in others.
or
- TLISS00234—Motorcycle Rider Training Skill Set.
Motorcycle Q-Ride accredited rider trainer
To deliver the Q-Ride motorcycle graduated licence system as a registered service provider or as an employee of a registered service provider, you need to:
- have completed a Q-Ride rider trainer curriculum training course,
- hold at least one of these qualifications:
- a current driver trainer accreditation to provide driver training for a class R motorcycle
- all 3 units of competency below:
- TLIC0035—Apply low-risk motorcycle riding behaviours
- TLIM0013—Conduct motorcycle rider training
- TLIM0020—Develop low-risk motorcycle riding behaviours in others.
- TLISS00234—Motorcycle Rider Training Skill Set
- TLI41222—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group C - Motorcycles)valid for applications until 28 May 2027 with certificate dated before 28 May 2026.
- TLI41225—Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training (Specialisation group C –Motorcycles –with certificate dated before 28 May 2026)
Read more about becoming an accredited rider trainer.
Mutual recognition
If you currently hold an interstate or New Zealand driver trainer accreditation, you may be eligible to have this recognised and transferred to the equivalent Queensland accreditation for the same vehicle classes.
To complete this process, you must apply for recognition of your interstate or New Zealand accreditation and pay the appropriate fees. New Zealand mutual recognition applicants must provide a NZ licence check from Demerit points and suspension history that dated no more than 6 weeks old before application carrying the endorsement 'I' for instructor.
Submitting an application prior to completion of training
You can pre-lodge your application without the training course certificates. This will allow time for criminal and traffic history checks to be completed.
Completed training course certificates must be presented within three months from the lodgement date of the application.
Blue Card requirement
Accredited driver trainers that provide driver training to children, must have a suitability card (blue card) issued by the Queensland Government. Find out more about applying for a blue card.
What happens after I apply?
When we get your application, we will check your qualifications and assess whether you are suitable to be an accredited driver or rider trainer.
We will get a criminal history report, including a New Zealand criminal history report if needed, along with your traffic history.
We do not accept criminal history reports issued directly to you by the Queensland Police Service or any third party.
Assessing your criminal and accreditation history
If you have a criminal or accreditation history, we will consider:
- how the offence/s is/are relevant to the role you have applied for
- how long ago the offence/s was/were committed
- any penalty imposed
- is there a pattern of offending.
If we find that your criminal, traffic or accreditation history makes you unsuitable to be an accredited driver or rider trainer, we will refuse your application.
We will look at any charges or offences from any jurisdiction. This will help us decide if we should grant the accreditation, keeping public interest and public safety in mind.
Charged but not yet convicted
We may refuse your application if you have been charged with (but not yet convicted of) a disqualifying offence. A disqualifying offence is an offence under the Criminal Code Act 1899.
Being charged with an offence does not necessarily mean your application will be refused.
We might ask for more details about the charges. Then, we will consider how they relate to the role of an accredited driver or rider trainer before deciding.
Traffic history
Driver and rider trainers must understand and follow regulations. They have legal, moral, and professional duties to know these rules and why they matter. These include guidance, restraint, uniformity, and safety.
It is essential that driver and rider trainers have a sound traffic history record. We may refuse to grant your accreditation if you have an adverse traffic history.
Consideration of other factors
We will consider any relevant information you may want to provide. This might include:
- circumstances that explain your criminal or accreditation offence history
- effect on service availability from your application refusal
- your qualification and work history
- any other material, such as personal references who are aware of your application, criminal history, or accreditation issues.
Approving your application
If your application is approved, an accreditation document will be issued. This will show when your accreditation expires and if any conditions apply.
Application refused
If your application is refused, we will send you a notice which details:
- the decision
- the legislation that applies in making the decision
- the facts relied on in making the decision including any offences considered
- any evidence or other material considered in reaching the decision
- the reasons for the decision, and your rights for a review of and/or appeal against the decision.
Renewing your accreditation
Your application for renewal of your accreditation must be made prior to the expiry date. If your accreditation has lapsed for three months or more, you must reapply, submitting all new application requirements. This includes the training qualifications required at the time of your application.
Insurance
We strongly recommend that businesses involved in providing learner driver training, seek independent professional advice and obtain appropriate levels of insurance to meet their business needs. This includes professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Review by the chief executive
Throughout your accreditation period, you must maintain satisfactory levels of competency. If the chief executive thinks you are not competent to provide training, you might need to prove your skills to their satisfaction.
Refer to schedule 1, part 1, sections 3 and 4 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2015.
Vehicle to be used for training and assessment
Driver trainer cars provided by driver trainers for learner driver training must be fitted with the following equipment:
- training controls that are easily accessible for immediate use by the driver trainer sitting in the front passenger seat of the car
- an internal rear-view mirror for the driver trainer as well as the learner driver’s rear-view mirror
- an external driving mirror on each side of the car.
This is required under section 29 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management —Accreditation and Other Provisions) Regulation 2015. There are penalties for not complying with these requirements.
You should ensure that any vehicle provided by the learner driver for training purposes must be typical of the class and meet the minimum standards for test vehicles as described in the Q-SAFE Driver Licence Assessment Policy.
For more information contact your nearest transport and motoring customer service centre.
Registered training organisations
The Australian Skills Quality Authority is the national body that regulates vocational education and training in Australia. The Australian Skills Quality Authority registers training organisations and accredits courses. If you have complaints about a registered training organisation or its training quality, contact the Australian Skills Quality Authority directly.
