Child safety statement

Child safety and protection

Safe, respectful and culturally safe learning environments for young people under 18.

Child safety is part of Coastwide driving instruction. This statement explains our published commitments and procedures, the Queensland Child Safe Standards, and how learner drivers and their families can raise a concern.

Coastwide Driving School · Queensland

Our commitment to young learners

We are committed to implementing Queensland’s 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle under the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. Child safety and wellbeing are embedded in our leadership, governance and culture.

We uphold the Universal Principle by creating culturally safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. It applies across all 10 Standards.

Screening and driver trainer accreditation

All our driver trainers who work with children hold a valid Blue Card, Queensland’s Working with Children Check, before commencing child-related work. All our driver trainers hold Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) accreditation.

Queensland requires accreditation to provide pre-licence driver training for reward. TMR also requires accredited trainers who teach children to hold a Blue Card. See Blue Card requirements for driving instructors and driving schools for the relevant screening category.

The 10 Child Safe Standards

The Queensland Family and Child Commission’s Child Safe Standards guide how organisations protect children. The summaries below describe each Standard.

  1. Leadership and culture

    Child safety and wellbeing are embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

  2. Voice of children

    Children are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

  3. Family and community

    Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

  4. Equity and diversity

    Equity is upheld and diverse needs are respected in policy and practice.

  5. People

    People working with children are suitable and supported to reflect child safety values in practice.

  6. Complaints management

    Processes for responding to complaints and concerns are child-focused.

  7. Knowledge and skills

    Staff and volunteers develop the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe through ongoing education and training.

  8. Physical and online environments

    Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the risk of harm to children.

  9. Continuous improvement

    Implementation of the Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

  10. Policy and procedures

    Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children.

Queensland’s Standards align with the nationally endorsed National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

How our driving school puts the Standards into practice

1. Leadership, policies and code of conduct

Our published child-safety commitments include a Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and culturally safe practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

The existing 2Wards Driving child-safety reference pack (PDF, version 1.0) includes Coastwide, a policy, Code of Conduct and complaint and incident templates. It contains template fields and older commencement wording. For current requirements, use the official guidance on this page; contact the school for the policy and reporting arrangements that apply to your lessons.

Our child-safe Code of Conduct sets expected behaviour for staff and contractors before, during and after lessons, both in the car and online.

2. Screening, suitability and training

  • We hold and monitor Blue Cards for all relevant roles and follow organisational obligations set out by Blue Card Services.
  • We maintain TMR accreditation for all driver trainers and comply with training, conduct and vehicle fit-out requirements, including training controls and mirrors.
  • Staff undertake ongoing child-safety training aligned with the QFCC Standards and national resources.

3. Empowering children and engaging families

Our pre-lesson briefing covers learner rights, how to speak up and how to make a complaint or disclosure safely, including anonymous options. Young learners should know how to raise a concern and have their views taken seriously.

With learner consent and in line with privacy laws, we share lesson objectives, progress and safety information with parents and carers.

4. Safe physical and online environments

Our training vehicles are fitted with dual controls and safety equipment in line with TMR requirements. Trainers follow accredited codes of conduct.

Online bookings and communications follow clear rules: no private messaging outside approved channels, appropriate language and appropriate timeframes.

5. Child-focused complaints and incident response

Our complaints pathway involves the trainer, school administration and external regulators as needed. For concerns about training quality or trainer conduct, TMR advises contacting the trainer or their employer first, then TMR if the matter is unresolved or the outcome is unsatisfactory.

You can contact school administration directly on 07 3188 1456 or through our contact page to raise a concern.

  • Criminal matters are reported to Queensland Police.
  • Discrimination matters are referred to the Queensland Human Rights Commission or Australian Human Rights Commission.
  • Fee disputes can be referred to the Office of Fair Trading if they remain unresolved after being raised with the trainer or school.

We maintain secure records and provide outcome information appropriate to the report, protecting confidentiality and child safety. Read TMR’s driver trainer complaints guidance for the relevant external pathways.

6. Continuous improvement

We carry out an annual self-assessment against the QFCC Standards and Universal Principle using the QFCC toolset. Corrective actions are tracked through to completion.

Official information and resources

These organisations explain the requirements and provide tools for children, families and organisations.

Common questions

Are the Child Safe Standards mandatory for Queensland driving schools?

Yes. TMR states that organisations providing driver training to children under 18 must implement the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle from 1 April 2026. This includes sole traders providing class C training to children. The driving school guidance explains the scope.

Do driving instructors need a Blue Card and TMR accreditation?

Accredited driver trainers who teach children must hold a Blue Card. TMR accreditation is required for pre-licence driver training for reward. Our school’s policy is that trainers working with children hold a valid Blue Card before commencing that work.