Commitment to Child Safety

Cloncurry Shire Council is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where all children and young people can thrive. We hold a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse, neglect, and harm.

Council is actively aligning its operations, public spaces, and community services with the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 and the Queensland Child Safe Standards. We recognise that safeguarding children is a shared community responsibility. Every Councillor, employee, volunteer, and contractor representing Cloncurry Shire Council is required to promote and uphold the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children.

Our Core Commitments

  • Holistic Wellbeing: Protecting the physical, emotional, social, and cultural safety of all children and young people (aged 0–18 years) interacting with Council facilities and services.
  • Cultural Safety: Fostering an environment that honours and protects the cultural identity and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as well as children from diverse cultural backgrounds or those living with a disability.
  • Workplace Culture: Supporting our workforce with targeted screening, training, and awareness necessary to prioritise child safety in everyday practice.

The 10 Child Safe Standards in Our Community

We look to embed child safety into our leadership, governance, and daily operations across all Council-managed services—from our corporate offices to local parks, community events, and early childhood education.

Standard  How We Implement It In Cloncurry
 1. Leadership & Culture Child safety and wellbeing are embedded in Council leadership, governance structures, and policy frameworks.
 2. Children's Rights & Voice Children are informed of their rights. We listen to their perspectives, take them seriously, and invite them to participate in decisions that affect them.
 3. Family & Community Families and our local remote communities are kept informed and actively involved in promoting child safety.
 4. Equity & Diversity Equity is upheld, and the diverse needs of all children are respected across Council policies and programs.
 5. Safe Staff & Volunteers Strict recruitment, targeted background checks (including mandatory Blue Cards for child-related roles), and ongoing support ensure personnel are suitable for their positions.
 6. Child-Focused Complaints Council maintains clear, accessible, and child-focused processes to respond immediately to complaints or disclosures of harm.
 7. Ongoing Education Staff and volunteers receive training to recognize, prevent, and respond effectively to child safety risks.
 8. Physical & Online Spaces We design and monitor Council's physical locations (like libraries and parks) and digital environments to maximize safety and minimize risks.
 9. Continuous Review Our child-safe practices, risk registers, and community handbooks are regularly evaluated and updated for continuous improvement.
 10. Clear Documentation Council's overarching policies and operational manuals clearly document our practical procedures for maintaining a child-safe organization.

Incidental and Direct Contact

Whether providing dedicated direct care through services like Curry Kids Early Learning Centre or managing spaces where incidental contact occurs (such as the Cloncurry Library, community pools, or public events), Council treats all safety concerns with absolute urgency. Any report or suspicion of harm will be addressed immediately in accordance with our strict internal reporting policies and statutory obligations.

Report a Concern or Access Support

If you have a child safety concern, please ensure you use the correct reporting channel below so it can be handled by the appropriate authority.

1. Direct Reports to Council Management (Council Personnel Conduct Only)

If you have a specific complaint or concern regarding the conduct or behaviour of a Council representative (including employees, volunteers, or contractors) or the operations of a Council-managed facility:

  • Email: council@cloncurry.qld.gov.au
  • Attention: Address your email to the Child Safety Lead
  • What to include: Please include the date, specific Council location or service involved (e.g., Curry Kids Early Learning Centre, Cloncurry Library), a brief description of the worker's conduct, and your contact details.

Please Note: This internal pathway is strictly for handling matters relating to Council staff and service delivery. Council cannot investigate or intervene in child safety complaints involving private individuals, external businesses, or third parties in the wider community.

2. Statutory Child Protection Authorities (General Community and Third-Party Concerns)

To report general concerns about a child or family experiencing harm, or to report the conduct of any third party or member of the public outside of Council operations, contact the relevant state authorities directly:

  • Immediate Danger: Call 000 for Police.
  • Child Safety Queensland (Regional Intake): Contact the North Queensland Regional Intake Service on 1300 679 849 (After Hours: 1800 177 135).
  • Family and Child Connect: For free, confidential family support, advice, and connection to local community services, call 13 FAMILY (13 32 64).
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