Child protection

Parents are responsible for looking after their children and protecting them from harm, or the risk of harm, caused by:

• abuse, including physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse,
• being exposed to unsafe environments, including family violence, and drug or alcohol abuse, or
• neglect.

There are three common situations where courts might make orders to help protect children from harm or the risk of harm:

1. The Family Court makes a parenting order in cases involving allegations or concerns of family violence or child abuse.
2. A court makes a restraining order that protects children, or
3. When there is an application in the Children's Court for children to be brought under the protection and care of the state government.

This section has information about what can happen in the Children's Court if there are concerns about the safety or well-being of your children. Find out:

• what help is available for people involved in child protection matters
• how child protection concerns are investigated
• what happens in protection and care applications in the Children's Court  
• what protection orders the court can make 
• how parents can tell their story to the court in a Response
• how grandparents and other significant others can have a say, and
• what happens after a final order is made placing a child in the care of Child Protection.