Why did the Queensland Government bring forward the Commission's recommendations to May?
The Queensland Government announced on Thursday 12 February it would bring forward the Commission’s reporting deadline to late May 2026 to allow reform to begin sooner. You can read the full Ministerial Statement here.
Were there changes to the Commission’s Terms of Reference beyond bringing forward the reporting timeframes?
There were no changes to the Commission’s Terms of Reference beyond bringing forward the reporting timeframes. The Commission is committed to improving outcomes for children, carers and families across Queensland and creating a safer community for all Queenslanders.
Have submissions closed?
Yes. Submissions to the Commission closed on Sunday 29 March 2026 to meet the Queensland Government's new reporting deadline.
Will the Commission make submissions public?
In total the Commission received 1193 submissions, including 1002 from individuals including young people and children who have experience within the child safety system, as well as frontline workers, family members, foster and kinship carers and parents. The Commission also received 191 submissions from community organisations, government and frontline support bodies, academics, legal organisations and individual lawyers.
Not all submissions have been published. Decisions about publication were made having regard to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, the preferences of submitters, privacy considerations, whether the material was appropriate for public release and any administrative capacity constraints.
How will the Commission ensure submissions are published appropriately?
In recognition of significant individual experiences, submissions have been reproduced as provided, as far as possible. This includes retaining original language and, where present, grammatical or formatting irregularities, to preserve the integrity and authenticity of each account.
Given the volume of material received and how individual submissions were provided, the Commission adopted an approach of publishing a representative selection of submissions to reflect the breadth and diversity of experiences shared. Not all submissions have been published. Decisions about publication have been made having regard to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, the preferences of submitters, privacy considerations, and whether the material is appropriate for public release.
To support the safety and privacy of contributors and others, the Commission has taken all reasonable steps to de-identify material as far as possible, including removing or altering names, locations, and other identifying details. Only material from submitters who have consented to the sharing of their de-identified accounts has been included. Material has been reviewed and, where necessary, redacted to support safe publication while maintaining the meaning and integrity of each account. However, due to the nature of personal experiences, there remains a possibility that individuals familiar with particular circumstances may recognise aspects of the accounts shared.
The statements have been published without adoption or endorsement by the Commission and do not represent findings of fact.
Why was the Commission established?
The Queensland Government established an independent inquiry into Queensland's Child Safety system. As set out in the terms of reference, the Commission of Inquiry's goal was to identify and address systemic issues within the Child Safety system to improve outcomes for children, carers and families across Queensland and creating a safer community for all Queenslanders.
Who is conducting the inquiry?
The Honourable Paul Anastassiou KC was appointed as Commissioner to lead the inquiry. The Commissioner was supported by an experienced team of legal professionals, investigators, policy officers and administrative staff. The team included people who have worked in different aspects of the Child Safety system, including as front-line workers, as well as people who have lived experience in the system.
How can I be sure the Commissioner will hear my point of view?
Throughout the inquiry, the Commissioner sought input on various critical issues regarding the Child Safety system by calling for submissions. All members of the public with relevant information were encouraged to make a submission to the Commission in response to requests through the Commission. All submissions were reviewed.
What areas of the child safety system will be reviewed?
The scope of the inquiry was set by the Queensland Government in the terms of reference. The inquiry examined topics like the department’s systems and processes, out-of-home care options (kinship, foster and residential care), child protection and youth justice responses legal processes, workforce issues, oversight mechanisms, and accountability.
Will the Commission look at individual cases?
The Commission used case studies of individual circumstances if the approach served to highlight a broader systemic issue.
I want to make a complaint about the Child Safety system. What should I do?
If you wish to make a complaint about a specific matter, please use the existing complaints and reporting pathways through the service provider, government department, or external appeals processes (for example to the Queensland Ombudsman or the Crime and Corruption Commission).
I am concerned about the current safety and wellbeing of a child or young person in the Child Safety system. What should I do?
If you have a current concern about the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person, please contact The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety. If a child or young person is in immediate risk of harm, please call Triple Zero (000) and report your concerns to emergency services.
Will the voices of children and young people be heard during the inquiry?
The Commission was committed to ensuring the voices of children and young people who have lived experience in the child safety system were heard in a safe, respectful, and meaningful way. A youth engagement program was developed for this purpose. This included hearing directly from young people currently or previously within the Child Safety system and also hearing from advocacy groups and organisations who worked with these young people.
The inquiry ensured consultations with children and young people occurred in an age-appropriate and trauma-informed manner with appropriate safeguards in place.
How were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities consulted?
The Commission recognised the importance of active, respectful, and meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families within the Child Safety system.
The Commission worked in partnership with community elders, leaders and peak organisations to facilitate consultation. In undertaking its work, the inquiry examined the experiences and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in the Child Safety system.
Is support available if I find the inquiry process distressing?
A list of counselling and support services is available.
Can I view a public hearing?
Public hearings were held in selected locations around Queensland and at various times during the Commission term. Public hearings can be viewed on our hearings page.
How long will the Commission of Inquiry run?
The Commission began operations from 1 July 2025 and submitted its final report to the Queensland Government on 22 May 2026.
