Reportable Conduct

The Reportable Conduct Scheme strengthens child safety by ensuring allegations and convictions involving workers, volunteers, contractors and other adult employees are responded to appropriately, transparently, and consistently.

The scheme promotes accountability across organisations that work with children and young people and reinforces community confidence that concerns about child safety will be assessed and managed appropriately.

Within schools operated by Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns (CEDC), it is emphasised that safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. All staff have an obligation to identify, respond to, and report concerns that may involve reportable conduct.

The core safeguarding message underpinning the Reportable Conduct Scheme is that all adults who work with children must:

• Place the safety and wellbeing of children first
• Act on concerns without delay
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times
• Support a culture of transparency and accountability
• Contribute to child-safe and culturally safe environments.

What is the Reportable Conduct Scheme?

The Queensland Reportable Conduct Scheme commenced under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 and establishes a framework for responding to allegations of certain conduct by employees, volunteers and other workers engaged by child-related organisations.

The purpose of the scheme is to:

• Improve organisational accountability
• Strengthen child-safe cultures
• Ensure allegations are independently overseen
• Promote timely and appropriate responses to concerns
• Reduce the risk of harm to children and young people.

The scheme requires organisations to investigate and notify relevant authorities of allegations involving reportable conduct, regardless of whether the conduct may also amount to criminal offending.  

What is Reportable Conduct? 

Reportable conduct is certain conduct committed by a worker, volunteer, contractor or other adult associated with an organisation that causes harm to a child or places a child at risk of harm.

Examples of reportable conduct may include:

• A child sexual offence
• Sexual misconduct committed in relation to, or in the presence of, a child
• Ill-treatment of a child
• Significant neglect of a child
• Physical violence committed in relation to, or in the presence of, a child
• Behaviour that causes significant emotional or psychological harm to a child.

Reportable conduct may occur:

• At a school or workplace
• During school-related activities
• Online or through digital communications
• Outside of work where the conduct has a relevant connection to a person’s employment or role working with children.

Not every workplace issue is reportable conduct. However, our staff know that any concern that may involve harm to a child should be reported and assessed.

How possible Reportable Conduct is reported

All CEDC staff have a responsibility to promptly report conduct that may constitute reportable conduct. The reporting process is aligned with the CEDC Safeguarding Framework, which promotes the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children and young people through prevention, early intervention, effective reporting and appropriate responses to concerns.

Step 1 – Ensure Immediate Safety

• Take reasonable steps to protect any child or young person from immediate harm.
• Contact emergency services if urgent assistance is required.

Step 2 – Report the Concern

As soon as practicable, staff report the concern to:

• Their Principal, Supervisor or Line Manager; and
• The CEDC Student Protection and Professional Standards Team.

The staff member reporting the conduct does not investigate the matter themselves, as this requires specialist training.

Step 3 – Record Relevant Information

As soon as possible, staff record: 

• What was observed, disclosed or reported.
• Dates, times and locations (if known).
• Names of those involved.
• Any actions taken to address immediate safety concerns.

Step 4 – CEDC Assessment and Response

CEDC will assess the information received and respond in accordance with the CEDC Safeguarding Framework, the Reportable Conduct Scheme, and other applicable legislative requirements. This may include risk assessment and management, notifications to relevant authorities, investigation, findings, and any necessary corrective or protective actions.

When a reportable conduct allegation is received, CEDC will:

• Assess and manage any immediate risks to children and young people.
• Determine whether the matter meets the threshold for reportable conduct.
• Make required notifications to relevant authorities.
• Conduct or coordinate a fair, impartial and timely investigation.
• Make findings based on the available evidence.
• Implement any necessary actions or recommendations.
• Review outcomes to strengthen safeguarding practices and organisational learning.

Throughout the process, the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children and young people remain the primary consideration.

CEDC’s Commitment to Child Safeguarding

The Reportable Conduct Scheme forms an important part of CEDC’s broader CEDC Safeguarding Framework which also includes existing student protection, child safeguarding and professional standards processes. Together, these arrangements support a child-safe culture by promoting accountability, professional conduct, effective reporting, and continuous improvement in safeguarding practices across all CEDC schools and communities.