Queensland Ends Residential Care for Kids Under Five

Queensland just made a bold commitment to protect its youngest vulnerable children by removing every child under five from residential care facilities.

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm announced the policy shift following a major Commission of Inquiry that examined serious failures in the state's child protection system. The decision will affect 78 children currently living in residential care, moving them toward family-based placements instead.

The inquiry, led by Commissioner Paul Anastassiou KC, delivered 52 recommendations after holding nearly 50 hearings across Brisbane, Cairns, and Townsville over 10 months. Queensland currently has 13,568 children in out-of-home care, the highest number of any Australian state.

One finding drove urgent action. The commission discovered that 67 percent of reported sexual abuse incidents involved children placed in residential care, with girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

Commissioner Anastassiou's report emphasized that family-based care should always be prioritized over institutional settings. His recommendations include simplifying adoption processes, redesigning the department structure, overhauling provider licensing, and putting children's best interests at the center of every decision.

The Ripple Effect

This reform represents more than policy changes. It signals a fundamental shift in how Queensland protects children who cannot live with their birth families.

The government established a cabinet sub-committee to respond to all recommendations within two months. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington honored the courage of those who shared their stories during the inquiry, promising their difficult testimonies would lead to real action.

Minister Camm acknowledged the system's problems developed over many years and won't be fixed overnight. But she emphasized the government's willingness to confront difficult truths and make necessary changes to break harmful cycles.

The inquiry also recommended considering adoption more broadly for children in long-term care, including studying "simple adoption" options. While some First Nations stakeholders raised concerns, the commissioner argued that allowing historical wrongs to prevent all adoptions risks creating new forms of harm through prolonged impermanence.

Commissioner Anastassiou made his hope clear at the final hearing last month: less talk, more action, with the system refocused on protecting the 12,500 children who depend on it.

Queensland's most vulnerable young children now have a government committed to finding them safer, more nurturing homes where they can truly thrive.