Child Safe Standards for arts and culture sector
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Queensland's new child safeguarding law, the Child Safe Organisations Act, aims to protect Queensland children from harm when they interact with organisations.
Organisations that provide art or cultural services or facilities specifically for children will need to comply. This includes, for example, performing arts schools, art education programs and cultural dance groups.
These organisations are required to introduce the 10 Child Safe Standards, effective from 1 April 2026, which work to create environments that prioritise the safety of children to prevent harm.
Some organisations in Queensland will also be required to introduce a Reportable Conduct Scheme from 1 July 2026. The scheme requires organisations to report and investigate allegations of child abuse or misconduct by their workers.
Does the legislation apply to my organisation?
Check whether the Act applies to your organisation by visiting the Queensland Family and Child Commission’s website.
Support for organisations
The Queensland Family and Child Commission is the oversight body for the Act and is responsible for supporting its implementation in Queensland.
You can find a range of free resources on its website to help you prepare, including comprehensive guidelines and reflection tools.
Subscribe to the Commission’s newsletter to stay up to date with news, events and resources.
Together, we can ensure arts and cultural organisations in Queensland are safe for every child.
Other available resources
Step Up! For Safe Dance: Ausdance developed resources to help studios, teachers and organisations understand their obligations and take meaningful action toward safer practice.
Ausdance Safe Dance for Kids: online education program designed specifically for dance teachers aged 18 and over. It embeds the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle for Cultural Safety within dance education and practice.
Creative Workplace Children and young people: Information and practical tools to help keep children and young people safe in creative workplaces.
LPA Guide to Child Safety in the Live Performance Industry: provides best practice guidance for implementing the National Standards for Child Safe Organisations and relevant jurisdictional child safe standards, developing child safe policies and procedures, and creating a child safe organisational culture and environment
- Last updated:
- 20 March 2026