Four inquiries in three decades: The challenge of reforming Qld’s child safety system

A child in Queensland's residential care system described their situation as "evil and inhumane," stating they preferred sleeping on the street to remaining under the roof of the facility. The child expressed feeling completely alone, with workers rarely checking on them, highlighting a profound failure of the state to act as a responsible parent.

“

What I am currently going through is not okay. If I die while in my situation, I want residential care to be called out for what it is. Evil and inhumane.

This harrowing account comes as the latest inquiry into Queensland's child protection system, the fourth in nearly three decades, has released 52 recommendations. Commissioner Paul Anastassiou stated that the system requires a complete rebuild from the ground up, asserting that minor adjustments will not alter its current trajectory. The inquiry, costing $20 million, identified significant issues within the system, which the Queensland government has acknowledged as "broken."

“

The state (is) my parent, but it (doesn't) act like one. The fact I was 14 years old and preferred sleeping on the street over a roof over my head is a massive problem and a huge red flag.

A key recommendation is the immediate removal of children under five from the $1 billion residential care system, where many have experienced harm, abuse, and neglect. These group homes, intended as short-stay, last-resort options for teenagers, have become a source of millions for service providers, with many operating unlicensed. The Youth Advocacy Network CEO described the department as a "huge expensive failure."

“

no tweak or tinkering will change the present trajectory of the child protection system.

Questions remain about the practical implementation of removing young children, particularly concerning the potential separation of sibling groups. The inquiry advocates for a transition to family-based care, acknowledging decades of underinvestment in kinship and foster care. Queensland currently faces a shortage of 1,000 foster carers, and some carers report feeling unprepared, underpaid, and unsupported. To address this, a $27 million professional foster carer program is being piloted in Townsville and southeast Queensland. The inquiry also recommended an independent framework for complaints and escalations to protect those who raise concerns.

“

the department was a "huge expensive failure"