A Queensland man has had his working-with-children clearance suspended after a girl alleged he was grooming her while working at an accommodation service housing teenagers.
Queensland Family and Child Commissioner Luke Twyford said the man was among 39 people to have their blue cards suspended in the two months since the state's reportable conduct scheme came into effect.
The scheme launched on July 1, brought forward by 12 months, and provides a consistent framework for reporting sexual offences, violence, and neglect.
A review into serial paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith, led by Mr Twyford, found five separate occasions where his offending would have been detected had the scheme been in place.
Mr Twyford said the man quit his job after the allegation of grooming behaviour was made and raised with the Queensland Family and Child Commission, "seeking to avoid detection and sought employment elsewhere".
Under the reportable conduct scheme, the organisation was required to continue its investigation, Mr Twyford said, during which two other young people alleged grooming behaviour.
"We were able to share that information instantly with QPS and Blue Card and the Blue Card was suspended and that person was not able to take up their new job and continue to avoid detection by moving organisations," Mr Twyford said.
199 matters referred to police
Speaking at the start of Child Protection Week, Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the scheme had received 666 complaints of reportable conduct since July.
"Every notification that is received enables the relevant authorities to investigate, to make sure that the principal objective of keeping Queensland children safe is met," she said.
About 200 matters involving alleged criminal conduct have been referred to the police by the Queensland Family and Child Commission, with 572 cases being monitored.
Of the notifications, 29 per cent relate to ill-treatment of a child, 22 per cent are allegations of physical violence against a child, and sexual misconduct committed in relation to a child accounts for 16 per cent.
Mr Twyford said previously the criminal threshold for behaviour was relied on "too often" and is "an inadequate way to protect our children".
"We're being proactive in sharing that information, making sure everyone across government is aware that there's been a signal that this person might be a risk," he said.
He said each complaint did not prompt the immediate suspension of a blue card, with further investigation and information needed in many cases.
"This is about a mature, graduated system where we see risk to children holistically, we share information holistically, and we all work together to keep Queensland children safe," Mr Twyford said.
From next year, the reportable conduct scheme and blue card system will be part of the Queensland Protection Commission, which is expected to start work in February.
The government has said it would be the state's first dedicated child and vulnerable persons "safeguarding agency", bringing together multiple departments including education, health, police, child safety and youth justice, under one roof.
