Renewed focus on student-centred safeguarding

CEQL’s 2026 Student Protection Inservice Day was held on Friday 21 August, with a program specifically designed to prioritise student-centred approaches to safeguarding.

More than 110 Queensland Catholic education staff attended in Brisbane and online to take part in sessions by experts from Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies, Griffith University’s Centre for Investigative Interviewing and the Queensland Family and Child Commission.

Pictured: CEQL Deputy CEO Peter Elmore and Patrick McDermott with presenters from Queensland Family and Child Commission, Kirstine O’Donnell and Tamara Roudenko.

The Inservice Day offered insights into interviewing children appropriately on sensitive matters; the mission of faith-based organisations to create cultures of wellbeing and safety; knowledge and strategies on managing harmful student sexual behaviour; and understanding the new requirements of the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

In his opening address, CEQL Deputy CEO Peter Elmore said the theme of the 2026 Inservice Day was chosen to bring a ‘focus back to student-centred approaches to safeguarding”.

“Over the last few years, there have been significant changes to safeguarding arrangements in Queensland, with the introduction of the Child Safe Standards, Reportable Conduct Scheme and the impeding changes to Student Transfer Notes from Term 4 this year,’ Peter said.

“Within the new arrangements and the work required to set up new processes, we need to keep our unrelenting focus on the students as the centre of our mission in Catholic schools.”

Peter also thanked attendees for their “commitment to student protection and ensuring all students in our Catholic schools are as safe as possible” and acknowledged the “shared wisdom model” among Queensland Catholic schools.

“We are greatly strengthened as Catholic schools by our unity and shared mission in facing these complex and pressing issues of student protection… sharing and cooperation makes us all stronger in our resolve.”

The annual Student Protection Inservice Day is organised through CEQL’s Student Protection Forum, which consists of representatives from Catholic School Authorities across Queensland.

Pictured: attendees in Brisbane during a session by Australian Catholic University Institute of Child Protection Studies Research Associate Gabrielle Hunt.