Ombudsman's third report on preventing harm to children with disability in Queensland released

Ombudsman’s third report on preventing harm to children with disability in Queensland released

Responding to recommendations from the Royal Commission

In 2023, Public Hearing 33 of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability considered a case study of two children living with disability. They were referred to as Kaleb and Jonathon.

In response to recommendations from the public hearing, the Queensland Ombudsman has been investigating some of the public sector agencies that had interactions with Kaleb and Jonathon.

The Ombudsman’s investigation

The focus of the Ombudsman’s investigation is on the current practices and procedures of the Queensland public sector agencies that engaged with Kaleb, Jonathon and their father.

This is the Ombudsman’s third report from the investigation. The first report focused on the Department of Education and the second report on the Department of Housing and Public Works. This report looks at Queensland Health.

A Commission of Inquiry into Queensland’s Child Safety System (the Inquiry) started on 1 July 2025. The Inquiry’s terms of reference include examining the practices and procedures of Child Safety. Given the scope of these terms of reference, the Ombudsman decided not to proceed further with the investigation of Child Safety while the Inquiry is underway.

Report 3: Queensland Health

The Ombudsman’s investigation found that Queensland Health staff had concerns about Kaleb and Jonathon’s safety and wellbeing from birth.

“The boys were diagnosed with disabilities including significant global developmental delay and intellectual disability. In those early years, Queensland Health staff made several child protection reports to the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety,” Mr Reilly said.

“We examined whether the current practices and procedures of Queensland Health would prevent other children with disability from experiencing the nature and extent of the harm Kaleb and Jonathon suffered.

“We found that it has developed some practices and procedures to help staff identify and respond to child abuse and neglect, but we also identified opportunities for improvement.

The Ombudsman made 13 recommendations for improvements to Queensland Health’s practices and procedures.

“Queensland Health needs to provide staff with clear and consistent information about how to identify and respond to child protection concerns,” Mr Reilly said.

“In particular, staff need clearer guidance on concepts like cumulative harm, parent behaviour and neglect of medical care. Guidance could include resources for staff to use to inform their decision-making and promoting the importance of consulting with expert staff within hospital and health services’ child protection units.

“Queensland Health needs to ensure that staff can recognise that in some circumstances, missed medical appointments may be a sign of potential neglect.

“And Queensland Health needs to ensure that hospital and health services have effective information management systems that support service delivery, including responding to child protection concerns.”

Read the full report.