Transport providers and child safety standards

The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 is a law that aims to protect Queensland children from harm when they interact with businesses and organisations.

It sets out standards and rules for organisations that work with children, including transport providers. This includes:

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

Key date

The new rules for operators providing transport services specifically for children start from 1 April 2026.

How to comply

If you provide transport services specifically for children, you must apply the Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle across your whole organisation. For example, if you run both public and school bus services, the standards apply to all your services.

You can check your organisation's readiness by reviewing your current policies and practices against the 10 Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle. You can also use the Queensland Family and Child Commission's (QFCC) self-assessment tool to understand what you already have in place and where improvements may be needed.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will help transport providers understand and meet their responsibilities.

Sector regulators

Sector regulators are responsible for setting standards, monitoring compliance, and ensuring the safety and quality of services provided to children.

If your services require operator accreditation or driver authorisation, TMR is your sector regulator. You may also have other regulators, like the Department of Education.

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