Child safety
If you have a complaint about a child safety matter, try and resolve the issue with the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services first.
Child safety complaints
You can make a complaint about the department or a funded service provider through the department’s complaints management system.
Learn more about making a complaint to an agency.
What we can do
Lodging an appeal with QCAT
Under the Child Protection Act 1999, some decisions made by the department can be reviewed by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
These include decisions relating to:
- who will care for the child
- informing parents about who is caring for their child and where they are living
- restricting or imposing conditions on contact
- removing the child from a particular carer.
You may wish to seek legal advice about requesting a review of a decision in QCAT. You can contact
Legal Aid Queensland on 1300 651 188 or seek your own legal advice about the matter. Find your closest
Community Legal Centre.
For information on seeking a review in QCAT, you can
email or phone the QCAT Registrar on 1300 753 228.
We do not have the power to review the decisions of QCAT.
What we can't do
We do not have the power to investigate or respond to reports of harm or risk of harm to children.
If you wish to report harm or risk of harm to a child, you should contact the department.
What is harm to a child?
The Child Protection Act 1999 defines harm to a child as anything that has a significant detrimental effect on the child’s physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.
Harm can be caused by physical, psychological or emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse or exploitation.
Harm can occur in any location where a child lives or is cared for, including private homes, foster homes, group homes, other institutions, youth detention centres and many more.
If you suspect that a child or young person is experiencing harm or neglect or is at risk of harm, you can contact the department.
Reporting harm or risk of harm to a child
Anyone can contact the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services with concerns about a child who is at risk or who has been harmed.
During normal business hours you can call the department’s Regional Intake Services (RIS):
- Brisbane and Moreton Bay RIS –1300 682 254
- Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland RIS –1300 703 762
- Far North Queensland RIS –1300 684 062
- North Queensland RIS –1300 706 147
- South East (Logan, Gold Coast and Bayside) RIS –1300 679 849
- South West (West Moreton and Ipswich) RIS –1300 316 855.
After business hours and on weekends call the department’s Child Safety After Hours Service Centre on 1800 177 135 or (07) 3235 9999. This service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Helping children and young people to speak up and make a complaint
Resources are available to help children and young people understand their right to speak up when they feel unhappy, uncomfortable or unsafe.
The ‘Speak up and make a complaint’ resources from the National Office for Child Safety include information specifically for:
- children and young people
- adults - Helping children and young people to Speak up and make a complaint. Adults play a critical role in helping children and young people know their rights and supporting them to raise concerns.
- organisations
- Guidance to help organisations understand their role in supporting children and young people to speak up.
Other contacts
The Office of the Public Guardian protects the rights of children and young people in the child protection system, and can be contacted on 1300 653 187.
If you or your children are victims of domestic violence and need support, contact DVConnect on 1800 811 811.
If you are a foster or kinship carer and need support, contact Queensland Foster and Kinship Care on (07) 3256 6166.