Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle for transport providers
Under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (the Act), child safe entities must comply with the Child Safe Standards (the Standards) and Universal Principle.
This guidance will help you understand and apply each of the Standards. We've also suggested how you can consider the Universal Principle as you apply each Standard. You should apply them in a way that is proportionate to the size of your organisation, the type of service you deliver and where you deliver your service.
Child refers to any person under 18.
How the Standards should be applied
You need to apply the Standards and Universal Principle across your entire organisation. For example, if you provide SEQ Urban bus services to the general public and also provide school services, you need to comply with the Standards and Universal Principle across your organisation.
Your approach should be proportionate. For example, drivers who work directly with children every day might need more in-depth training or more detailed procedures than your workers (as defined in the Act) working in a back-office function. Every person in your organisation should understand your child safe policies and procedures and know what they need to do if they have concerns that harm has occurred.
How you may already be complying with the Standards
Your organisation will already have some aspects of the Standards and Universal Principle in place. This is because you operate in a sector that prioritises safe passenger transport services in Queensland, including services specifically for children. Many of these requirements are captured in the Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994 and Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Regulation 2018, as outlined below:
- By meeting operator accreditation and driver authorisation requirements, you and your drivers are also supporting the safety of children on your services.
- Under the safety management framework for road-based public passenger services, responsible duty holders need to have a safety management plan (SMP). The SMP outlines how you manage and support safety during public passenger service activities.
- The Code of conduct for school students travelling on buses provides a framework for the safe travel of school students on buses. The Code contributes to meeting some of the Standards.
- If you operate under a school service contract, it has requirements that operators must follow for the duration of the contract. Many of these align with the Standards.
This summary (DOCX, 570KB) provides a quick overview of how you may already be meeting the Standards. More detailed information about how you may be meeting the Standards is provided under each Standard.
Understand and apply the Standards and Universal Principle
Use the Queensland Family and Child Commission's (QFCC) self-assessment tool to help you understand and apply the Standards and Universal Principle. It steps through each of the Standards and gives you space to capture what you are already doing so you know where you need to improve.
The following QFCC resources may help you with using the self-assessment tool:
- guidelines for implementing the Child Safe Standards in Queensland
- quick reference guide to implementing the Child Safe Standards in Queensland
- information about child safe organisations.
The 10 Child Safe Standards
Work your way through each of the 10 Standards below.
You must apply the Universal Principle as you implement each Standard.
- Leadership and culture
- Voice of children
- Family and community
- Equity and diversity
- People
- Complaints management
- Knowledge and skills
- Physical and online environments
- Continuous improvement
- Policies and procedures.
Read more about the 10 Child Safe Standards on the QFCC website.
The Universal Principle
You must provide an environment that promotes and upholds the right to cultural safety of Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children. This means creating environments that make Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children feel welcome, safe, valued, included, and respected.
The Universal Principle applies across all 10 Child Safe Standards, influencing how each Standard is applied.
Start by reflecting on where you are and what you need to do to become culturally safe. You can:
- reflect on the cultural safety indicators in the guidelines for implementing the Child Safe Standards in Queensland and identify where you need to take action
- ask Aboriginal children and families and Torres Strait Islander children and families who you provide services to about their views on cultural safety in your organisation
- action feedback you receive to strengthen cultural safety in your organisation
- ask your workers about what they need to strengthen their capability to create a culturally safe environment.
You can also educate yourself and your management team about cultural safety from resources such as courses, workshops, videos, or education from a consultant.
Read more about the Universal Principle and cultural safety on the QFCC website.
Next steps
Once you have assessed your organisation:
- Set time limits for the actions your organisation will take to improve child safety on your services.
- Apply the actions you've identified to improve child safety and wellbeing in your services.
- Ensure you continually review any policies, procedures and processes you have or develop to ensure continuous improvement, as required under Standard 9.
Also consider...
- Read more about the reportable conduct scheme.