Child protection education resources for health workers

All Queensland Health employees, volunteers, and external contractors working within Queensland Health Hospital and Health Services have a responsibility to recognise and respond to concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children.

The Queensland Health Child Protection Capability Framework outlines five levels of capability for Queensland Health staff across the continuum of care. Its primary aim is to ensure all Queensland Health staff have a common understanding of their responsibilities to enable them to recognise risk factors for abuse and neglect and respond appropriately, within the scope of their role, to any suspicions of a child in need of protection.

Reporting

All health professionals are expected to be aware of their responsibilities in relation to child protection and the legal framework (the Child Protection Act 1999) for sharing information about child protection concerns.

Child protection - staff orientation resources

All newly employed health professionals should be provided with introductory information on child protection and the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect. Include a broad overview of child protection as a mandatory component in clinical induction programs.

Familiarise staff with the relevant legislation:

The Child Protection Guide—an online tool to support professionals, such as teachers, doctors and nurses, childcare workers and others working with children and families, in deciding where to refer or report concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing. This guide includes:

  • procedures manual
  • child protection guide online training module.

Education module - understanding child abuse and neglect

Education is available to health professionals to increase knowledge of an individual’s roles and responsibilities in recognising, reporting and responding to child abuse and neglect.

Download the Child Abuse and Neglect Education Module (PDF 1426 kB)

Reporting child abuse

Find forms and processes for reporting child abuse.

Reporting sexual offences against children

In 2017, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse called for major reforms to make Australia’s criminal justice system fairer and more effective for victims of child sexual abuse.

In response, Queensland introduced new laws through the Criminal Code (Child Sexual Offences Reform) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020. Two important new offences applied from 5 July 2021:

  • Failure to Protect (s.229BB) - people in positions of authority within institutions (like schools, churches, or health services, including Queensland Health) can face up to 5 years in prison if they know a child is at risk of sexual abuse in that setting and do nothing to protect them.
  • Failure to Report (s.229BC) - all adults now have a legal duty to report child sexual abuse to police. If an adult knows, or reasonably suspects, that another adult is sexually abusing a child and does not report it, they can face up to 3 years in prison. This applies everywhere, not just in institutions.

These laws recognise that children and young people often face enormous barriers to speaking out about abuse. They put responsibility on adults to act, ensuring that child sexual abuse is never ignored and that children are better protected.

The changes demonstrate Queensland’s commitment to acting on the Royal Commission’s recommendations and keeping children safe.

Find out more about Laws targeting sexual offences against children.

Referral (Family and Child Connect)

Where possible, obtain the families' consent and refer them to Family and Child Connect (FaCC) if your concerns:

  • don’t reach the threshold for a report to Child Safety Services and
  • the family has multiple or complex needs and
  • would benefit from support services or
  • you believe further identification of the family’s needs is required.

FaCC is a local, community-based service that helps families to care for and protect their children at home by connecting them to the right services at the right time.

Find a local Family and Child Connect office.

Further information

Last updated: 4 April 2025