The Commission will work openly, fairly and independently.
The Commission is guided by a list of topics about the child safety system. These topics must be considered during the inquiry.
This list is known as the ‘terms of reference’. The list includes:
- how the child safety system works for everyone involved, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and communities
- how children, families and carers in the system are treated
- early intervention programs
- models of care – including residential care, foster care, and kinship care
- the roles of the agencies in the child safety system
- how you can complain about problems with the system
- anything else about child safety.
You can also read the full terms of reference.
Collecting information
The Commission will look at information and people’s stories to see how the child safety system is working.
Anyone can share information with the Commission. You can tell us about problems with the child safety system that you know about. You can do this by making a submission.
The Commission will also get information and records from organisations in the child safety system. This can include:
- Government departments and entities
- law enforcement organisations
- family support organisations
- child protection organisations
- out-of-home care placement and service providers, including residential, foster and kinship care
- foster and kinship care peak bodies
- legal services.
In general, these organisations must give the Commission any information it asks for.
The Commission can also ask people and organisations to speak at a public hearing to share their story or information.
Anyone can listen to a public hearing. The Commission will have public hearings across Queensland. Visit the Hearings page to see the list of dates and locations.
Reporting on findings
The Commission will collect all of this information, people’s stories, and evidence given at hearings. The Commission will use this information to report on problems with the child safety system, and suggest ways to make the system better.
The Commission will publish a report by 30 November 2026. The Commission may also publish reports on specific issues before then.
