Charter of rights

There is a Charter of Rights for children and young people in care.

The Charter of Rights is part of the Child Protection Act 1999. It lists the rights of Queensland children and young people living in care. Child Safety must comply with the charter.

Child Safety must give children and young people information about the Charter of Rights and explain what it means.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Child Safety must also make active efforts to uphold their rights under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

There are lots of people children and young people can talk to about their rights — their Child Safety Officer, a Community Visitor or Child Advocate from the Office of the Public Guarding, or the CREATE Foundation.

Under the Charter of Rights, children and young people in care have a right to:

Be safe and healthy

  • Have a safe and stable place to live
  • Have a care arrangement that meets their needs
  • Receive care that meets their needs, including medical, dental and therapeutic care
  • Be treated fairly and with respect
  • Have privacy
  • Have a safe place to keep personal belongings
  • Play and take part in activities they enjoy, including sport, music and art

Be themselves

  • Stay connected to their family, community and culture
  • For Aboriginal children – grow up connected to Aboriginal tradition
  • For Torres Strait Islander children — grow up connected to Islander custom
  • Follow their religion
  • Learn their language
  • Develop their own identity, including their sexual orientation or gender identity

Have a voice and be heard

  • Have a say and take part in decisions about their lives, including where they live, seeing their families, their health and schooling
  • Receive information to help them take part in making decisions and plans about their future
  • Have their case plan and care arrangements regularly reviewed
  • Have a say in who is given information about them
  • Make a complaint to Child Safety if their rights are not being upheld

Learn and earn

  • Go to school
  • Be enrolled in job training and get help to find a job
  • Be supported to transition from care to live as independent adults