Principal Regulatory Officer - Early Childhood Regulatory Authority

Queensland Department of Education; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Queensland Department of Education in Brisbane seeks a Principal Regulatory Officer to lead complex child-safeguarding investigations within the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority. You will provide specialist regulatory advice and influence investigative practice while collaborating with government agencies and sector stakeholders.

Flexibility in work arrangements is available, subject to operational requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience undertaking complex investigations, preferably in child safeguarding or regulatory contexts.
• Strong understanding of investigative methods, evidence gathering and reporting.
• Ability to assess risks and apply relevant legislation with fairness.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex investigations within Queensland's early childhood regulatory framework.
• Provide specialist regulatory advice and contribute to best-practice investigations.
• Collaborate with government agencies and external authorities on high-risk matters.
• Contribute to regulatory initiatives and continuous improvement of safeguarding practices.

Skills

Investigation experience

Regulatory compliance

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Professional judgement

Education

Blue Card (WWCC)

Authorisation eligibility

Job description

Principal Regulatory Officer - Early Childhood Regulatory Authority

Queensland Department of Education – Queensland

The Principal Regulatory Officer is responsible for conducting complex investigations, providing specialist regulatory advice and contributing to the quality and consistency of the team's investigative practice.

The position is based in Brisbane City within the Child Safeguarding team of the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority and reports to the Manager, Regulation (Child Safeguarding).

The role involves investigating sensitive and potentially confronting allegations concerning the safety and wellbeing of children. Applicants should demonstrate the professional maturity, investigative capability and sound judgement necessary to undertake this work.

Flexible work arrangements are available, subject to operational requirements.

About the team:

The Child Safeguarding team is a specialist statewide function within the Queensland Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, responsible for assessing complaints, notifications and intelligence and investigating allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in early childhood education and care services.

Working collaboratively with government agencies, external authorities and leading subject-matter experts, the team takes an evidence-led approach to identifying risks to children and developing effective regulatory interventions.

The team also contributes to strengthening child-safeguarding practices across the sector, including the response to the In Plain Sight report and implementation of the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

The role offers:

• Undertake complex and significant child-safeguarding investigations within Queensland's early childhood education and care regulatory framework, gaining experience in specialist investigative methods, behavioural risk assessment and regulatory interventions.
• Work alongside leading academic experts and specialist investigators, collaborating with government agencies, external authorities and sector stakeholders on sensitive, high-risk matters.
• Contribute to significant regulatory initiatives, including the Regulatory Authority's response to the In Plain Sight report and implementation of the Reportable Conduct Scheme, while influencing investigative practices and child-safeguarding improvements.
• Access ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities within a specialist regulatory environment, with flexible work arrangements available subject to operational requirements.

Qualities:

• Demonstrate integrity, sound judgement, personal accountability and a strong commitment to child safety, procedural fairness and objective decision-making.
• Possess strong analytical thinking and professional curiosity, with the ability to challenge assumptions, consider alternative explanations and reach balanced conclusions.
• Maintain a calm, resilient and professional approach when managing complex, sensitive and confronting matters.
• Show initiative, independence and confidence in exercising professional judgement, providing well-founded advice and contributing to continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and organisational skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively and maintain high standards of accuracy and professionalism.

Skills and experience:

• Demonstrated experience undertaking complex investigations, preferably involving child safeguarding, regulatory compliance, misconduct or similar matters.
• Sound understanding of investigative methods, including evidence gathering, interviewing, assessing information, identifying evidentiary gaps and preparing investigation findings.
• Highly developed analytical and critical reasoning skills, including the ability to assess adult conduct, behavioural patterns, contextual risks and competing explanations.
• Experience assessing risks to children, developing evidence-based recommendations and applying relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks, administrative law and procedural fairness principles.

Highly regarded: Experience investigating allegations of child sexual abuse or misconduct, applying behavioural risk assessment methodologies, working within statutory child-safeguarding frameworks, or holding relevant investigation qualifications.

Mandatory requirements:

• Must hold, or be eligible to obtain, a current Blue Card under the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000.
• Must be eligible for authorisation as an authorised officer under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).
• Must hold a current drivers' licence as this role involves undertaking visits to early childhood education and care services.

We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.