After a protection application has been made, the Children's Court will determine if there's enough evidence to suggest that the child is in need of protection - if so, then a Protection Order will be issued to maintain the child's safety and wellbeing.
A Protection Order (sometimes referred to as a Court Order) is an instruction issued by the children's court about the care of a child that must be followed.
Through this phase, the Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service (ACSASS) continues to provide their support to Child Protection with regards to major decisions and actions concerning Aboriginal children.
Protection Orders are made for the following reasons:
- To reduce risk of abuse and neglect to the child
- To promote the child’s safety and development, provide for their present and future care and wellbeing, and achieving an ongoing care arrangement that creates a sense of belonging
- To implement the child and family's case plan, including setting goals, tasks and timelines and monitoring its progress to keep the plan on track
- If the goal is to return the child to a parent or family member, to ensure that the family is empowered to function independently.