Inservice Day readies Queensland Catholic schools for child safety reforms

QCEC’s 2025 Student Protection Inservice Day was held on Friday 29 August, providing a valuable opportunity for Queensland Catholic school staff to gain insight and guidance on the significant changes being made to the state’s child protection system.

“Queensland Catholic schools are keen and committed to be a central part of these changes,” said QCEC Senior Policy Officer – Governance and Strategy and lead event organiser, Patrick MacDermott.

Pictured (from left): QCEC Senior Policy Officer – Governance and Strategy Patrick MacDermott; Manager, Professional Conduct Integrity, Queensland College of Teachers Mario Palleschi; QCEC Chief Operating Officer Maree Lacey; QCEC Executive Director Allan Blagaich; Catholic Education Queensland Limited board member Eloise Atkinson; Director, Child Safe Organisations, Queensland Family and Child Commission Rebecca Christopherson; Manger, Queensland Family and Child Commission Connor Haddad.

The day focused on the introduction of the Child Safe Standards and Reportable Conduct Scheme, as well as exploring how the Universal Principle Cultural Safety can be implemented in schools.

More than 150 participants engaged in the day’s sessions, in Brisbane and online, with key addresses by representatives from the Queensland Family and Child Commission and QCEC’s First Nations Education Committee, as well as a panel discussion with input from the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board and the Queensland College of Teachers.

Pictured: attendees during in-person presentations in Brisbane.

Queensland schools will be required to implement the Universal Principle and Child Safe Standards by 1 January 2026.

“The Student Protection Inservice Day was an opportunity to consider in depth how Catholic schools can prepare for the new developments and play an active role in making children safer,” Patrick said.

To view the event photo gallery, click here.