The Queensland Audit Office (QAO) has brought forward its investigation into the state's troubled Unify child safety IT system, as scrutiny intensifies over the project's management and its impact on frontline child protection services.
The fast-tracked review comes after months of criticism surrounding the $188 million digital platform, which was introduced to modernise child protection case management but has since been linked to significant operational problems. The audit will examine whether public money was managed effectively, whether governance arrangements were adequate, and how the project affected service delivery for vulnerable children.
Earlier independent reviews found the system launched without several key functions originally planned. Critical features were removed or delayed during development, while inadequate testing and compressed delivery timelines reportedly left child safety officers working with an incomplete platform. Those shortcomings increased workloads and made it harder for staff to assess reports of harm and manage child protection cases efficiently.
The accelerated audit follows growing political pressure on the Queensland Government after previous reviews concluded that the system's failures may have placed vulnerable children at greater risk. Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm has previously stated she was not fully informed of the seriousness of the system's problems before it went live and has committed to overhauling governance and restoring public confidence.
The Audit Office is expected to assess how project decisions were made, whether risks were appropriately identified and reported, and if stronger oversight could have prevented many of the issues encountered during implementation. It will also examine whether lessons can be applied to future large-scale government technology projects.
The Unify platform was intended to replace ageing child protection systems and improve information sharing across Queensland's child safety services. Instead, frontline workers reported difficulties locating records, slower processing times and reduced functionality, forcing staff to rely on manual workarounds while managing sensitive child protection matters. Earlier audits also found that overdue child protection intake cases increased significantly following the rollout before additional resources helped reduce the backlog.
The review is taking place alongside the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into Queensland's Child Safety System, which is examining broader systemic issues affecting child protection across the state. Findings from both processes are expected to influence future reforms in governance, technology and frontline service delivery.
Government officials have already begun implementing a remediation program to restore missing functionality, improve reporting, strengthen governance arrangements and rebuild confidence in the system. However, the fast-tracked Audit Office investigation signals that questions remain about accountability for one of Queensland's largest public sector technology projects.
The Audit Office is expected to report its findings after completing its investigation, with recommendations likely to focus on project management, oversight, risk controls and the protection of vulnerable children through more reliable digital systems.
