Family and Child Commission Bill 2014 in Queensland

Queensland has introduced the Family and Child Commission Bill 2014 into its House of Parliament. The Bill establishes the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) with the objective of promoting the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children and young people and advocating the responsibility of family and communities to protect and care for children and young people.

The Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry (QCPCOI), led by the Honourable Tim Carmody QC, confirmed that the current Queensland child protection system is under immense stress and subsequently made recommendations aimed at addressing the risk of systemic failure and overall to ensure the safety of children. The bill give effect to the government’s response to the accepted recommendations of the QCPCOI.

The establishment of the QFCC by the bill will essentially provide systemic oversight of the child protection system delivered by public sector and publicly funded non-government organisations providing child safety services. It will also endeavour to promote and advocate to families and communities their responsibility for protecting and caring for their children.

The main function of the QFCC will involve analysis of systemic issues and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of reforms. It will have a leadership role in supporting a coordinated, whole-of-Government response to improve outcomes for service users and preventing harm to children and young people through the strategic orientation and integration of evidence-based services. The bill provides that its functions will also include driving best practice in the provision of services, by developing a workforce development strategy, coordinating a research program, and by evaluating the performance at a systemic level.

The bill has since been referred to Committee after being introduced to the Queensland Legislative Assembly on the 20 March 2014. 

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