Decisions requiring the child's guardian
Some decisions can only be made by the child’s legal guardian. If the child is in care as a result of a care agreement or is on a custody order from the Childrens Court (including an interim custody order), the parents retain legal guardianship and will be required to consent to these decisions. For some matters, such as passport applications, their written signature is required. This might lead to delays in the process, particularly if your Child Safety Officer (CSO) has difficulty getting in contact with them. As mentioned, separate request and approval processes are required for child-related costs.
If the child is on a guardianship order to Child Safety, the Director-General has delegated decision-making authority to senior departmental officers, as outlined in the table below.
If the child is on a guardianship order to a suitable person, either by a long-term guardian ship order to a suitable person order or a permanent care order, the child’s legal guardian will make all decisions for the child.
For additional information on immunisation decision making, refer to the Legislation changes: Vaccinations for children and young people in foster and kinship care fact sheet.
| Decisions made by the child's guardian | ||
|---|---|---|
| If the child is on a care agreement or custody order | If the child is on a guardianship order to Child Safety | |
Immunisation | Parents for child on care agreement Parents or health practitioner or Child Safety Senior Team Leader or Manager for child on custody order | Carer (take your Authority to Care – Guardianship to the Chief Executive form with you) |
Blood tests | Parents | Carer |
School camps | Parents | Child Safety Officer |
Work experience, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships | Parents | Child Safety Officer |
Requesting access to NDIS pathway | Parents | Senior Team Leader |
Selecting a school or changing school | Parents | Senior Team Leader |
Observance or participation in religious events and activities which are not consistent with the views of the child and their family | Parents | Child safety service centre Manager |
To seek dispensation from compulsory schooling | Parents | Child safety service centre Manager |
Participating in high risk activities* | Parents | Senior Team Leader |
Use of, or changes to, psychotropic or other medications prescribed for behavioural or mental health conditions | Parents | Child safety service centre Manager |
Contraception for child under 12 years or who is not considered ‘Gillick-competent’ | Parents | Regional Director |
Termination of pregnancy | Parents | Regional Director |
Acting on a second medical opinion | Parents | Child safety service centre Manager or Regional Director |
Invasive medical procedures, such as general anaesthetic, blood transfusions | Parents | Child safety service centre Manager |
To seek a change of a child’s surname | Parents | Child safety service centre Manager |
Air travel within Queensland | Parents and CSSC Manager | Child safety service centre Manager |
Air travel to another state | Parents and Regional Director | Regional Director |
Applying for a passport | Parents | Parents and Regional Director |
Overseas air travel | Parents and Regional Director | Regional Director |
Permission to marry | Parents | Regional Director |
Joining the armed forces | Parents | Regional Director |
Requesting DNA parentage test | Parents | Regional Executive Director |
End of life decisions | Parents | Parents and Director-General |
*High risk activities include, but not limited to, white water rafting, rock climbing, abseiling, high ropes course, go-karting, motorbike riding, parachuting, hang gliding, bungee jumping, scuba diving.
If you require any further information about the legislative changes as they relate to permanency and the permanent care order, refer to the document ‘Frequently Asked Questions for carer and care services’ on the Child Safety legislation page.