PACT

07/09/2026

Congratulations to all the deserving winners of Queensland Child Protection Week Awards. What an honour to be in the room with so many wonderful humans.

04/09/2026

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is deeply saddened by the passing of former Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski AO APM, following a courageous battle with cancer, today.

Steve’s legacy of service, courage, integrity and dedication will be remembered with great respect and gratitude by the many people and communities influenced by him.

His leadership through some of the most complex and significant moments in recent years reflected the confidence placed in him across the Service, government and the broader community. He was admired by many for his judgement, foresight and deep understanding of policing, and his impact will continue to be felt across Queensland, nationally and internationally for many years to come.

The QPS extends its sincerest condolences to Steve’s family, friends, colleagues and all who knew him during this difficult time.

With a career spanning more than 46 years, former Commissioner Gollschewski was the third longest serving police officer in QPS’ history.

Former Commissioner Gollschewski was appointed Queensland’s 21st Police Commissioner on 22 April 2024 and retired on 20 February 2026.

With honour he served.

04/09/2026

A profound loss for Queensland. Mr Gollschewski's decades of service and leadership made our state safer, and his legacy will be felt across the policing and community safety sector for years to come. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and QPS colleagues.

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) is deeply saddened by the passing of former Commissioner of Police Steve Gollschewski AO APM, following a courageous battle with cancer, today.

Steve’s legacy of service, courage, integrity and dedication will be remembered with great respect and gratitude by the many people and communities influenced by him.

His leadership through some of the most complex and significant moments in recent years reflected the confidence placed in him across the Service, government and the broader community. He was admired by many for his judgement, foresight and deep understanding of policing, and his impact will continue to be felt across Queensland, nationally and internationally for many years to come.

The QPS extends its sincerest condolences to Steve’s family, friends, colleagues and all who knew him during this difficult time.

With a career spanning more than 46 years, former Commissioner Gollschewski was the third longest serving police officer in QPS’ history.

Former Commissioner Gollschewski was appointed Queensland’s 21st Police Commissioner on 22 April 2024 and retired on 20 February 2026.

With honour he served.

02/09/2026

Making a Difference: Recognising the Support Our Volunteers Deliver 💛

At PACT, we believe no victim should face court alone. Every day, our volunteers bring that vision to life, supporting victims and witnesses across Queensland through some of the hardest moments of their lives. This week, we're sharing four stories that show just how much that support means.

💚 "Thank you so much for supporting our family at a very difficult time. This is such a valuable service." - A family, supported through their court journey.

🧡 "You stepped up to support a victim through their 93A and court appearance. She did well. Given we weren’t even sure she’d turn up, that is a huge credit to you." - An arresting officer, on the difference our volunteer made

🩵 "Your assistance has been very appreciated, more than you know. To have you supporting me with this means it's been finished, which may not have taken place had you not been there in our corner." - A person supported through their Financial Assistance Application

💜 "My family is so very grateful for your support and kindness throughout an incredibly stressful time" - A mother supported by a PACT volunteer.

This is the different our volunteers make, to children, young people, adults, families and the criminal justice system.

One of the simplest ways to say thank you is to help PACT support the next person who needs it. A donation, big or small, helps us train and equip more volunteers throughout Queensland.

Link to donate via our website. https://pact.org.au/donate/

26/08/2026

Imagine being a child having to give evidence in court about the worst moment in their life.

With a mind full of anxiety and questions. Will I have to see the person who hurt me? Will anyone believe me? What if I forget something, it was so long ago? What if I don't understand the question? Where do I sit? And who is the person wearing that funny wig?

These are some of the fears a child carries into the courtroom.

This is the reality PACT court support volunteers help children navigate every day. We're here to make sure no child faces court alone. Our role is to support, educate and empower all victims and witnesses of crime.

In the lead up to Queensland Child Protection Week (6 to 12 September), we're sharing the second video in our new educational series, showing what it's really like for a child to give evidence in the Queensland criminal justice system, and how a PACT support volunteer is there with them, every step of the way.

We have supported children through the court process for 40 years. This video shows how our volunteers help a child understand the courtroom, know they can ask for a break if they need one, and feel a little more prepared.

You never know who in your network might need to see this, a parent, a teacher, a friend supporting someone through the courts.

Please share this video to help more families understand what it's like to give evidence in court.

18/08/2026

Welcoming two more volunteers to the PACT team! 🎉

Meet Suzanne, joining us as a Court Support Volunteer in Brisbane. As she moves into retirement, Suzanne wants to stay active, use her skills, and step outside her comfort zone. PACT gives her the opportunity to do all three while meeting new people and taking on new challenges.

Meet Kevin, joining us as a Court Support Volunteer on the Sunshine Coast. Kevin's sense of civic duty carried over from his career in government service, is what brought him to PACT. Outside of volunteering, he's a serious cruise enthusiast (10 down, with more on the way!) and dreams of spending time on his friend's lavender farm in the South of France.

Suzanne and Kevin, welcome to the PACT family. We're so glad you've joined us!

Want to make a difference for victims and witnesses in your community? Get in touch to find out more about volunteering with PACT.

13/08/2026

A New Partnership in Action

PACT has partnered with Rights In Action to strengthen support for vulnerable victims and witnesses navigating the court process in Townsville.

This week, Tania and Paul travelled to Townsville and got straight to work, training members of the RIA team with the assistance of our local PACT volunteers. The training covered the realities of the role: the court process, trauma informed support, professional boundaries and what it really looks like to walk alongside someone experiencing some of the hardest moments of their life.

Our PACT volunteers played a big part in the day, sharing what the role is really like from their own experience.

Regional communities need the right support in the right place, and partnerships like this help us get there. But it's people who make it work.

If you're based in Townsville and want to be one of those people, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch via our website or call us on 1800 449 632 to find out more about volunteering with PACT.

11/08/2026

For most of us, everything we know about courtrooms comes from TV shows like Suits or Law and Order. Dramatic cross-examinations, perfectly timed objections, a verdict delivered just before the credits roll.

It makes for great television. It is nothing like the reality of giving evidence.

That is why PACT created a series of educational videos showing what it is really like to give evidence in the Queensland criminal justice system. We did not use actors. We collaborated with real people from within the justice system, including prosecutors, defence barristers, court staff and our own PACT volunteers, to be as authentically as possible. The proceedings shown are a dramatisation, but the people and their expertise are real.

For a victim or witness, giving evidence in court can be one of the most daunting parts of their whole court process. Where do I sit? Who will be there? Will I see the person who hurt me? Will I be believed?

Our first video follows an adult victim giving evidence remotely, supported by a PACT volunteer. It depicts examination by the prosecutor, cross-examination by the defence, and the oversight of the judicial officer.

By seeing a real courtroom and understanding what to expect, we hope to help take away some of the uncertainty around giving evidence in court.

We will be sharing the rest of the series over the coming week 💛

Queensland Police Service, Victims' Commissioner Queensland

05/08/2026

PACT community is looking forward to celebrating Queensland Child Protection Week in particular the 40th Anniversary Dinner. We can't wait to see Shepherd take to the stage!

This night is all about honouring the Queenslanders who turn up every day to support kids and their families. As Kay McGrath says "Protecting kids is everybody's business".

Grab your ticket and join us on the dance floor.

03/08/2026

Your volunteers show up. But do they stay — and do they feel like they belong?

Connection and belonging are shaping some of the biggest conversations in volunteer leadership right now, and this month's Volunteer Leadership Network session digs right into it.

We're joined by Nicole Ashley, winner of the 2026 Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award, who'll walk us through how her organisation redesigned the entire volunteer journey — from that first "yes" through onboarding, early support, and the kind of retention that actually sticks.

Expect real strategy, real challenges, and ideas you can take straight back to your own team.

📅 Wednesday 26 August
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams
🎟️ Free — register at the link below

It's also a great warm-up for bigger conversations happening at the Queensland Volunteering Conference this November.

Secure your spot today: https://events.humanitix.com/vln