QATSICPP Statement – 25 August 2025
Supporting Privacy and Safety – QATSICPP Responds to Recently Introduced Youth Justice Contractual Media Clauses
The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) acknowledges and commends the dedication, professionalism, and cultural expertise of our member organisations and youth justice funded services across Queensland. As Queensland’s Peak Body for youth justice, we know that every day, these organisations work tirelessly to safeguard the privacy, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people, while delivering culturally grounded supports that strengthen families and communities.
Our members and the youth justice community sector are deeply embedded in local contexts, bringing decades of knowledge and experience. Their work is highly complex, requiring a careful balance between accountability, transparency, and the vital responsibility to protect children and young people’s privacy and dignity. QATSICPP recognises the integrity with which our sector carries out these responsibilities and the essential role they play in ensuring that children and young people are supported to thrive, while keeping Queensland informed on what is working — and what is not.
In response to the recently introduced contractual clauses for youth justice funded organisations regarding media engagement, QATSICPP has been in active discussions with the Queensland Government, Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support (the Department). Our priority is to ensure these measures continue to strengthen protections for children and young people, without creating unintended barriers to the advocacy, insights, leadership, and voice of funded organisations. QATSICPP’s Deputy CEO of Youth Justice Murray Benton said: “It is vital organisations can speak as openly as possible and contribute to public discussion and reform. QATSICPP’s role is to support the sector’s needs, and better understanding the intention and impact of these clauses allows us to advise and work with our sector, while ensuring these organisations remain able to inform us all about the real lived experiences, challenges and successes that children and young people engaged with the system face.”
This week, QATSICPP will meet with the Department together with our Partner Peak, the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) to better understand the reasoning, and impact of these clauses. QATSICPP’s Interim CEO Elizabeth Adams said: “Sector organisations’ commitment to protecting children, supporting families, and breaking cycles of disadvantage is unwavering and we know they understand the importance of safeguarding privacy, confidentiality and safety.”
QATSICPP will continue to work with Government to support our sector’s ability to carry out critical work in ways that honour their expertise, cultural leadership, and experiences — ensuring community voices remain central to Queensland’s youth justice system. We do this while equally upholding the privacy and safety of our most vulnerable children, young people and families.
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For general Youth Justice enquiries please go to youthjustice@qatsicpp.com.au. You can download the statement here.
