Child-related studies

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Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in child-related studies as an activity to support curriculum delivery. Child-related studies refers to any curriculum activity that requires students to observe and interact with young children for curriculum purposes.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

'Students' refers to those secondary students who the teacher has engaged in the activity, and 'children' refers to those who are involved in the activity due to their attendance at an early childhood education setting.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Risk level

Low risk
Student observation of children with minimal interaction.

Medium risk
Student interaction with children aged 0–5 years, including the organisation of practical skills associated with the implementation of the early childhood studies applied senior syllabus or vocational education and training (VET).

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. facility manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

This activity must be conducted at a facility that is approved and follows the appropriate codes of practice.

Participants must adhere to all rules communicated by the centre's management.

School-based playgroups must be run in conjunction with guidelines for playgroups in Queensland state schools (departmental staff search 'guidelines for playgroups in Queensland State Schools' on OnePortal) for insurance purposes.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable.

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

a registered teacher with demonstrated knowledge of procedures that develop skills in observation and competence in supervising and facilitating positive interaction with and between children and educators and the potential hazards
an early childhood teacher, or a director or nominated supervisor of an approved early childhood education and care service, with qualifications in child-related studies and experience in a supervisory role.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity (e.g. enclosed footwear).

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Biological hazards Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat, bowel motions)	Manage open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.4MB) for first aid and hygienic practices, and Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services
Environmental conditions Weather	Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing (e.g. long sleeved shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside. Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Activity location	Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken, including sufficient space, adequate lighting and ventilation to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used locations to ascertain suitability
Faulty or dangerous equipment	Clean and store all equipment safely and securely when not in use
Slip, trip, fall	Place mats on the floor around change room/bathroom entryway. Consult the Preventing slips, trips and falls brochure
Student considerations	Control measures
Injury	Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment
Manual handling Lifting equipment, manipulating/moving students	Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying
Student issues High risk behaviours, medical conditions	Ensure the students have been prepared for the observation of children. Monitor student observation and develop students' skills in evaluation in respect to safety issues and procedures. Ensure that student behaviour is non-threatening to the children and that any accusations of inappropriate behaviour are dealt with in an expedient and appropriate manner. Ensure students are aware of a greater risk of transmission of infection when working with young children. Ensure students have been prepared for the interaction with children, including: actively supervising children choosing age-appropriate materials identifying age-appropriate learning experiences. Ensure the students have had opportunities to develop skills that ensure their own and others' wellbeing. Continually reinforce safety considerations throughout the activity

Additional links

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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