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What is Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme?
Understand the purpose of the Scheme, the organisations it applies to and the responsibilities it creates.
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Queensland Reportable Conduct Scheme
Queensland Reportable Conduct Scheme Resource Centre
Practical guidance for Queensland organisations responsible for protecting children, responding to allegations and conducting fair, independent and defensible investigations.
This Resource Centre has been developed for Heads of Entity, executives, principals, directors, boards, governance professionals and organisations working with children throughout Queensland.
Guidance for organisations working with children
When an allegation involving a child is made, organisational leaders may be required to make difficult decisions quickly and with limited information.
They must consider child safety, evidence preservation, reporting obligations, confidentiality, employment issues, procedural fairness and organisational governance.
Regional Queensland Investigations created this Resource Centre to help Queensland organisations understand the Reportable Conduct Scheme and respond to allegations professionally, fairly and confidently.
What an effective response requires
Reportable Conduct matters should be managed through a structured, evidence-based and child-focused process.
- Immediate consideration of child safety.
- Early preservation of documentary and digital evidence.
- Clear assessment of notification obligations.
- Independent and impartial decision-making.
- Procedural fairness for relevant parties.
- Findings supported by evidence and reasons.
What is Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme?
Queensland’s Reportable Conduct Scheme establishes a framework for certain organisations to identify, report, investigate and respond to allegations concerning the conduct of workers towards children.
The Scheme is intended to strengthen child safety, increase organisational accountability and provide independent oversight of how relevant allegations are handled.
It is not simply a reporting process. It also requires organisations to examine whether their systems, policies, supervision and governance arrangements adequately protect children.
Who should use this Resource Centre?
These resources are designed for Queensland organisations and decision-makers responsible for child safety, governance, workforce management and investigative responses.
Schools and education providers
Guidance for state and non-state schools, education providers, principals, governing bodies and school leadership teams.
Early childhood services
Resources for childcare centres, early learning providers, outside school hours care services and organisational leaders.
Disability service providers
Support for organisations delivering disability, support, accommodation or community services to children and young people.
Sporting organisations
Guidance for sporting clubs, associations, governing bodies, coaches, committees and child safety officers.
Religious and community bodies
Resources for religious institutions, charities, not-for-profits, youth groups and community organisations.
Government and statutory bodies
Investigation and governance guidance for public authorities, departments, statutory entities and funded service providers.
The first response to an allegation matters
The decisions made during the first hours and days following an allegation can affect child safety, evidence integrity and the fairness of the entire investigative process.
Protect children
Consider immediate safety risks and whether interim protective measures are required.
Preserve evidence
Secure relevant records, messages, CCTV, access data, incident reports and other material before it is lost.
Consider notifications
Assess whether the matter should be notified to police, child safety authorities, regulators or other oversight bodies.
Control confidentiality
Limit unnecessary disclosure and protect children, witnesses and the integrity of the investigation.
Avoid informal interviews
Poorly planned questioning can contaminate evidence, affect memory and undermine later interviews.
Seek independent advice
Early advice can assist the organisation to identify the correct investigative and governance pathway.
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Reportable Conduct Investigations Queensland
Learn how Regional Queensland Investigations assists organisations with preliminary assessments, independent investigations, evidence preservation, witness interviews, procedural fairness and final investigation reports.
Explore the Reportable Conduct article series
This 12-part series provides detailed guidance covering the key issues organisations should understand when responding to Reportable Conduct allegations.
New article released every Friday
RQI will release one new article in this 12-part Reportable Conduct series every Friday at 7:00 am throughout July, August, September and October.
Every Friday at 7:00 am02
An Allegation Has Been Made — What Should Your Organisation Do First?
Learn the immediate steps organisations should take to protect children, preserve evidence and manage risk.
Read Article03
Why Independent Investigators Protect Your Organisation
Examine how independence strengthens credibility, reduces conflicts and supports defensible organisational decisions.
Read Article04
Procedural Fairness Isn’t Optional
Understand why natural justice is essential to a fair, reliable and defensible Reportable Conduct investigation.
Read Article05
The 10 Biggest Reportable Conduct Investigation Mistakes
Identify the common procedural and evidentiary errors that can undermine investigations and expose organisations to risk.
Read Article06
Preserving Evidence During a Reportable Conduct Investigation
Learn how to identify and preserve documentary, digital, physical and witness evidence from the outset.
Read Article07
Interviewing Children and Vulnerable Witnesses
Explore the planning, questioning, support and evidentiary issues involved in interviewing children and vulnerable witnesses.
Read Article08
Internal HR or Independent Investigator?
Consider when an internal response may be appropriate and when an independent investigator should be appointed.
Read Article09
What Should a Final Investigation Report Include?
Learn what decision-makers should expect from a clear, comprehensive and evidence-based investigation report.
Read Article10
Understanding the Role of the Head of Entity
Examine the leadership, governance and accountability responsibilities applying to the Head of Entity.
Read Article11
Does Every Allegation Require a Full Investigation?
Learn how preliminary assessments can identify the appropriate, proportionate and defensible response to an allegation.
Read Article12
Why Queensland Organisations Choose RQI
Discover why organisations engage RQI for independent, professional and procedurally fair Reportable Conduct investigations.
Read ArticleWhy independent investigations matter
Reportable Conduct allegations can involve serious accusations, competing accounts, power imbalances, child safety concerns and significant consequences for everyone involved.
An independent investigator can help an organisation:
- Reduce actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
- Separate the investigator from the final decision-maker.
- Protect procedural fairness and confidentiality.
- Conduct structured and appropriately planned interviews.
- Assess documentary, digital and witness evidence objectively.
- Provide findings supported by clear reasons.
- Produce a report capable of withstanding external scrutiny.
RQI Reportable Conduct investigation approach
Every matter is different. RQI tailors the investigation to the allegation, the evidence, the relevant organisation and the needs of the authorised decision-maker.
1. Initial assessment
Review the allegation, available information, immediate risk, jurisdiction and potential notification obligations.
2. Investigation planning
Identify allegations, witnesses, evidence, interview sequencing, procedural fairness requirements and limitations.
3. Evidence preservation
Identify and secure documents, digital material, CCTV, messages, records and other available evidence.
4. Witness interviews
Conduct carefully planned interviews with relevant witnesses, complainants, respondents and other persons.
5. Procedural fairness
Provide relevant parties with a fair opportunity to respond to allegations and adverse material.
6. Findings and reporting
Analyse the evidence and provide clear findings, reasons and recommendations where requested.
How Regional Queensland Investigations can assist
RQI provides independent investigative assistance throughout metropolitan, regional, rural and remote Queensland.
Preliminary assessments
Initial assessment of allegations, risks, available evidence and the most appropriate investigative response.
Independent investigations
End-to-end investigation of Reportable Conduct and related child-safety allegations.
Investigation planning
Development of investigation scope, allegations, methodology, interview strategy and evidence requirements.
Witness interviews
Professional interviews with complainants, respondents, witnesses, children and vulnerable persons where appropriate.
Procedural fairness
Clear and properly documented processes for allegations, responses and consideration of adverse material.
Executive investigation reports
Comprehensive reports setting out evidence, analysis, findings, reasons and organisational issues.
Queensland Blue Card holders
RQI investigators undertaking relevant child-related investigations hold current Queensland Blue Cards under Queensland’s Working with Children Check framework.
A Blue Card is one part of working safely and professionally with children. It should be supported by appropriate investigative experience, careful interview planning, sound evidence-handling practices and a strong understanding of procedural fairness.
Investigations should strengthen organisational governance
A Reportable Conduct investigation should not be viewed only as a process for determining whether a particular allegation is substantiated.
It may also identify wider organisational issues requiring attention.
Policies and procedures
Determine whether policies clearly identify risks, responsibilities and reporting pathways.
Supervision
Consider whether workers received appropriate oversight, direction and support.
Complaint pathways
Examine whether children, families and workers can raise concerns safely and effectively.
Organisational culture
Identify cultural issues that may discourage reporting or minimise child-safety concerns.
Training
Assess whether staff understand boundaries, child safety, reporting requirements and expected conduct.
Risk management
Consider what changes are required to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring again.
Reportable Conduct investigation FAQs
Does every Reportable Conduct allegation require a full investigation?
Not necessarily. Every allegation should be assessed, but the appropriate response will depend on the seriousness of the conduct, the available evidence, notification obligations, disputed facts and potential consequences.
When should an organisation appoint an external investigator?
An external investigator may be appropriate where the allegation is serious, involves senior staff, creates an actual or perceived conflict, requires specialist interviewing or may later be reviewed by a regulator, tribunal or court.
Can HR conduct a Reportable Conduct investigation?
HR may have an important role in supporting the organisation. However, serious or sensitive allegations may require an investigator with specialist interviewing, evidence assessment, procedural fairness and report-writing skills.
Can interim action be taken before findings are made?
Protective measures may be appropriate while the matter is investigated. Any interim action should be proportionate, documented and treated as protective rather than as a finding of wrongdoing.
Does RQI provide a written investigation report?
Yes. Depending on the agreed scope, RQI can provide a comprehensive report addressing the allegations, methodology, evidence, procedural fairness, analysis, findings and recommendations.
Can RQI conduct investigations outside Brisbane?
Yes. RQI conducts investigations throughout metropolitan, regional, rural and remote Queensland.
Related RQI investigation services
Reportable Conduct matters may overlap with workplace misconduct, governance, fraud, serious misconduct and other organisational issues.
Workplace Investigations
Independent investigation of workplace complaints, bullying,
harassment and misconduct.
Serious Misconduct
Investigation of serious workplace and organisational conduct
allegations.
Corporate Investigations
Fraud, governance, compliance, integrity and organisational risk.
Local Government Investigations
Independent investigations for councils and public-sector
organisations.
Investigator Consultation
Discuss the allegation, investigative pathway and immediate next
steps.
Queensland Locations
View RQI’s regional, rural and remote investigation capability.
Regional Queensland Investigations
Need assistance with a Reportable Conduct allegation?
If your organisation has received an allegation involving a child, RQI can assist with preliminary assessment, investigation planning, evidence preservation, witness interviews, procedural fairness and comprehensive investigation reporting.
We provide on-the-ground investigations throughout regional, rural and remote Queensland.
You can send initial details through our Contact Form or book a confidential consultation.
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