Queensland's Unify Child Safety IT System Plagued by Gaps; Minister Acknowledges Increased Risk
An independent audit of Queensland's $183 million Unify child safety IT system has identified significant system gaps and functionality issues, which Minister for Child Safety Amanda Camm acknowledged led to an increased risk for children. The report, made public in September 2025, prompted the government to announce a comprehensive six-month remedial plan.
Audit Findings and System Deficiencies
The audit, commissioned by the LNP government in October 2024 and conducted by Deloitte, found difficulties for child safety workers in accessing data and identifying crucial information, such as family member roles and responsibility for harm. Launched in April 2025 following a two-year delay, the Unify system was intended to replace existing departmental software but encountered technical issues shortly after activation.
Several features were removed from Unify's scope in late 2023, including the ability to monitor individualized placement and supports. The Deloitte report cited constrained timelines, reduced project scope, and undelivered features as contributors to the system's problems.
Users reported instances of unexpected system shutdowns, including one case where over an hour of detailed assessment data for a complex case was lost. Staff also noted the requirement for exact name spellings for search results and the absence of an option to search by address. These factors were cited as decreasing the productivity of case workers and other professionals.
Minister Camm stated that the issues resulted in an increased risk, attributing this to impacts on frontline staff who had to operate across multiple systems due to Unify's performance. Workers reported data inaccuracies and a decline in personal productivity compared to the previous system (ICMS).
Minister's Response and Departmental Awareness
Minister Camm stated she was not briefed by her department about the extent of changes to Unify's functionality or any critical issues prior to its launch in April 2025. She indicated that previous briefs had assured her the system was ready for delivery.
"I did not know about the descoping of the functionality of this system, nor the history of the system until we read the findings of this report," Ms. Camm stated.
Documents obtained via Right to Information by the opposition indicated that Director-General Belinda Drew had referenced Unify issues in a June 4, 2025 email to a senior executive. The email noted a staff approval rating of 1.79 out of 10, inadequate training, and ongoing reliance on the previous ICMS system.
Ms. Drew subsequently met with Minister Camm on June 5, 2025. Ms. Camm defended Ms. Drew, who assumed her role in July, stating, "Ms. Drew has her job. Others do not." The minister also mentioned ongoing HR matters without further comment. The Department of Child Safety was contacted for comment regarding these developments.
Government's Remedial Plan
The government has announced a comprehensive six-month remedial plan to address the system's problems. This initiative includes an annual budget of $23.5 million for restoration efforts.
Approximately 120 staff have been assigned to establish a new governance structure with an independent chair. The plan aims to publish operational data within one month and restore corporate data within 12 weeks. The system is intended to be stabilized within six months.
Opposition Reaction
The Labor opposition criticized the government's handling of the situation. Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon stated it was "unbelievable" the minister was unaware of the system's reported failures.
Ms. Scanlon asserted that the Unify system was activated under the current LNP government while Ms. Camm was the minister, refuting claims that the program's problems originated during their tenure. Ms. Scanlon also suggested that the minister's director general was aware of major problems with the system before meeting with the minister, implying the minister should have known earlier.