Update: QFKC and Carer Participation in Commission of Inquiry

Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Smith and Director of Operations, Carissa Inglis, met with the Commissioner, the Honourable Paul Anastasssiou KC on 17th July 2025 to begin conversations about how QFKC as the Peak organisation for Foster and Kinship carers will participate in the Inquiry over the next two years and how we can support the carer community to participate and engage in the process.

This meeting was an initial meeting only, recognising that the Inquiry is in its early stages and engagement and participation will evolve depending on emerging outcomes and where this leads the Commissioner in this deep dive into the Child Protection system as a whole. 

QFKC will at different points throughout the Inquiry be asked to bring focus groups of carers together to speak to the Commissioner and the Commissioners team about key identified points. The Management Committee and Support Team will be invited to take part in discussions, and it is critical that if carers in general wish to be approached to participate in focus groups that they are members or part of QFKC’s Carer Reference Group as this is the only means of QFKC having direct contact details for carers. 

When bringing together focus groups, QFKC will be restricted to numbers provided to us by the Commissioner, it is important for carers to recognise that QFKC will do our best to ensure that focus groups comprise of a range of different carers from different regions and areas that represent a diverse cohort of experiences, both good and bad.    

The Commissioner has also spoken to other ways in which they may seek carers participation, including provision of case scenarios from carers and of course for carers to participate through direct evidence in the witness box.  Of most importance is that any carer can participate in the Inquiry by writing an individual submission, carers can head to the website Childsafetyinquiry.qld.gov.au then click on Submissions and follow the instructions.

Currently submissions are open for the public to write to any of the matters referred to in the Terms of Reference, however there will also be further opportunities as the Inquiry progresses for the public to provide submissions on specific topics – these can be found in the News and Events sections of the Child Safety Inquiry Website

Carers should feel confident to participate in the Commission of Inquiry process without concern around any impact on their carer household.  The Statement of Commitment states that ‘Child Safety commits to support access to a feedback, complaints or appeals process that is fair, just, equitable and timely’.  Carers should therefore feel confident to provide feedback in any appropriate setting, including the Inquiry in respect to their experiences as carers.  

Whilst this Inquiry is a marathon, not a sprint, the Minister has asked the Commissioner to provide interim reports throughout the 18-month period it will run, with a commitment to addressing identified issues if able to as they arise.  The Terms of Reference for this Inquiry are broad, this means that there is nothing necessarily that is out of scope if evidence gathered through the course of the Inquiry supports focus in a particular area not even identified in the Terms of Reference.  This is an opportunity for the system to be looked at as a whole and the participation of carers in this process who are at the core of the Child Protection system is absolutely critical, QFKC looks forward to working with carers over the coming 18 months to support your participation and engagement in this process.