The systemic report, Supporting parents with cognitive disability – the need for reform, was tabled in parliament on Monday 9 June 2025.
This report presents the findings from the Public Advocate’s review of the supports available for adults with cognitive disability who are parents or expectant parents.
A number of critical issues were identified in the report, related to the accessibility of mainstream services for expectant parents, the interface between pregnancy, parenting and the NDIS, and the child protection system.
The Public Advocate noted that the insights shared by stakeholders highlight an urgent need for government bodies to work together to develop and implement policy and practice reforms that provide targeted support to parents with cognitive disability.
The report includes two recommendations:
- 'The Queensland Government should establish a Ministerial Advisory Committee with the responsibility to review the policies and procedures that apply, and the current practices that occur, when parents with cognitive disability interact with the child protection system’ (the report proposes that the core business of this committee would be to examine: 'early intervention policies, procedures and practices'; 'the adequacy of the support given to parents with cognitive disability'; and 'the accessibility of the child protection litigation process').
- 'The Queensland Government should fund, as part of the Queensland Disability Advocacy Program, a specific program of advocacy support for parents and soon-to-be parents with cognitive disability'.
A copy of the report is available here.
The Public Advocate is looking forward to working with the Queensland Government as it considers these recommendations.