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