Complying with the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 as a transport provider

The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (the Act) commenced 1 October 2025 and aims to protect Queensland children from harm when they interact with businesses and organisations.

The Act consists of 2 key elements:

  • the Child Safe Standards, which aim to prevent harm in businesses and organisations
  • the Reportable conduct scheme, which enables an appropriate response if harm or misconduct happens.

Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle

Transport providers/operators who provide transport services specifically for children are child safe entities and must comply with the 10 Child Safe Standards (the Standards) and Universal Principle.

This includes transport providers who provide school services under contract to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), including:

  • school bus or ferry services
  • specialist school transport for students with disability (provided in buses, taxis, or booked hire vehicles)
  • SEQ Urban services or Regional Urban Bus services that include school transport services.

You must also comply if you provide any of the following services:

  • school transport provided under private arrangements with a school (such as chartered transport for school excursions)
  • transport provided by schools or childcare centres
  • taxi and booked hire services provided specifically for children (such as services specifically targeted at teenagers or minors to travel unaccompanied).

Reportable conduct scheme

If a child is in immediate danger, phone Triple Zero (000).

From 1 July 2026, TMR is a reporting entity under the Act. This requires TMR to implement systems to manage reportable conduct under the Reportable conduct scheme (RCS). The Director-General of TMR is the head of the reporting entity.

If you provide the following services, you have obligations under the RCS:

  • school transport services under contract to TMR
  • transport services under contract to a reporting entity other than TMR.

Learn more about RCS.

Sector regulators

As a child safe entity providing transport services specifically for children, TMR is your sector regulator. TMR supports providers to understand and meet their responsibilities under the Act, and monitors compliance.

You may also have other sector regulators, like the Department of Education.

Enquiries

For general enquiries about child safe organisations (other than reportable conduct) contact:

Also consider...