Critical and major incidents

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Amendments have been made to the Child Protection Act 1999 which make it mandatory for foster and kinship carers to report to Child Safety if they reasonably suspect a child in care has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse. Carers now have the same legal obligation as employees of family-based care services, employees of non-family-based care services (including staff who directly care for children), and Child Safety staff to report a reasonable suspicion about a child in care.

The mandatory reporting requirement does not duplicate the requirement under the Criminal Code Act 1899 for all adults in Queensland to report sexual offending against a child by another adult to the police. Carers with a reasonable suspicion about a sexual offence involving a child in care can make a report to Child Safety.

As the child’s carer, you may be the first person to be aware of a critical or major incident involving or impacting on a child in care. Your immediate response, and the ongoing guidance and advice from others in the child’s safety and support network, will help in providing a supportive, responsive and safe care environment for the child, and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Reporting a critical incident

Managing critical incidents includes responding to and reporting events which negatively impact, or have the potential to negatively impact, on the safety, well-being and best interests of a child in care.

The following table provides a list of Category 1 Critical Incidents. Some may require the involvement of emergency services, such as the Queensland Ambulance, Fire or Police Services. In emergencies do not hesitate to dial 000 (triple zero).

Child Safety requires you to report category one critical incidents immediately, or as soon as practical given the circumstances. You can contact your child safety service centre during business hours, or if after hours, contact the child safety after hours service centre on 1800 177 135. You can also contact your support agency and they will contact Child Safety immediately.

Category 1: Critical Incidents
Death	Child dies Child is allegedly involved in the death of another person.
Life threatening injury (hospitalisation)	Child receives a life threatening or serious injury that results in hospitalisation
Missing or abducted child	Child is missing, location is unknown and there are fears for the child’s safety or wellbeing – refer to ‘Reporting a missing child’ Child is, or it is reasonably suspected the child has been, abducted or taken against their will.
Major security incident	Child is involved in an incident (e.g. a fire, bomb threat, hostage situation, significant destruction of property or theft of a car) and emergency services is required to attend and relocation is required.
Rape, sexual assault or other serious assault	Child is allegedly raped or sexually assaulted Child is seriously assaulted and medical treatment is required Child is allegedly responsible for rape, sexual assault or serious assault of another person Child is allegedly responsible for serious animal cruelty.
Significant mental health episode (immediate medical treatment)	Child experiences a serious mental health episode which places their life at risk and requires immediate medical attention in a hospital.
Concern requiring immediate response	Child experiences harm which is suspected or has been caused by action or inaction of a carer or a household member Child experiences a prohibited practice such as the use of physical force, chemical or mechanical restraints, inappropriate hot or cold bathing, applying chilli powder on food or body parts, corporal punishment or other unethical practices.
Alleged criminal behaviour	Child engages in high risk behaviour with an adult, such as communicating in a sexual nature, possessing an image of an adult of a sexual nature (e.g. on a mobile device) or sending a personal photo of a sexual nature to an adult Child leaves the premises with police due to an investigation into their alleged criminal conduct or as an alleged victim of a crime.
Negative experience during family time	Child reports possible harm caused during family time.
Serious or life threatening injury	You or a household member receives a life threatening injury due to while performing your role as a carer.

Reporting a major incident

Category 2 Critical Incidents must be reported to Child Safety immediately, as soon as possible or at least by the next business day of you becoming aware of the incident. You can contact your child safety service centre during business hours, or if after hours, contact the child safety after hours service centre on 1800 177 135. You can also contact your support agency and they will contact Child Safety with the information.

Category 2: Major incidents
Serious injury	Child suffers a serious injury which is not life threatening (e.g. a broken arm) or experiences a mental health episode that requires medical treatment but does not result in overnight hospitalisation or admittance to a mental health facility.
Alleged harm, neglect or exploitation	Child is allegedly harmed or neglected (not by carers), however, immediate safety is not threatened.
Self-harm	Child directly or deliberately harms their body without the conscious intention to die.
Escalating risk taking behaviour	Child displays increased risk taking behaviour which poses an increased risk to themselves or others.
Alleged criminal behaviour	Child is charged with an offence and/ or there is a pending Childrens Court hearing Child is alleged to have stolen goods or illicit substances in their possession, or has suspected involvement in other criminal actions warranting police investigation.
Serious threat	Child makes a serious threat of destruction to property or injury toward others in the care service.
Substance misuse	Child engages in substance misuse or the effect of such is observed but does not appear seriously impacted and does not require medical attention or hospitalisation.
Absence	Child is absent for a short period without permission and their location is known or can be quickly established Child is absent, their location is known but there are safety concerns e.g. with a person unauthorised to have contact due to previous harm or allegations of previous harm.
Property damage	Child deliberately causes noticeable damage (e.g. broken windows, holes in walls), however, relocation is not required Child is with another person who causes damage to the property, e.g. a young person is with a friend, and the friend causes damage.

Incidents of significant concern

There may be other incidents of significant concern that will warrant timely reporting and discussion with your Child Safety Officer or agency support worker.

This includes circumstances in which you are concerned that a child in care has suffered, is suffering or is at an unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse.

A foster and kinship carer who forms a reasonable suspicion that a child in care has suffered, is suffering or is at an unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse is now mandated by law to report the reasonable suspicion to Child Safety. Refer to Mandatory reporting for further information.

Who to contact

In emergencies, call 000 (triple zero).
Queensland Police Service – find your nearest police station in the White Pages under ‘Police Service’ or the Queensland Police Service website under ‘station locator’.
Child safety after hours service centre – call 1800 177 135 for after-hours advice and support.
Foster and kinship carer support line – call 1300 729 309 Monday to Friday, from 5am to 11.30pm and Saturday to Sunday, from 7am to 11.30pm.
Policelink – call 13 14 44 if a missing child is located.

Last updated:: 28 October 2022

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