Protecting children

• About child protection
  • Child protection legislation
  • Mandatory reporting
  • Children and young people's rights
  • Parent's rights
  • Roles and responsibilities
• What is child abuse?
  • Types and signs of harm
  • Factors contributing to harm
  • Effects of harm
• How to prevent abuse
  • Protecting children from harm
  • Prevention and early intervention
  • Referral for Active Intervention
• Reporting child abuse
  • If you suspect harm
  • What happens when we are contacted?
  • What happens when a report is made?
  • When child safety officers visit your home
  • Cape York Welfare Reform trial
  • Reporting child abuse in other states
• Responding to child abuse
  • Moving a child to a safe place
  • Investigation and assessment
    • Unborn children
    • Assessment orders
  • Care agreements
  • What you can expect
• Ongoing intervention
  • Support Service Case
  • Intervention with Parental Agreement
  • Child protection Order
  • Case planning
    • Service referrals
  • Family group meetings
  • Court processes
    • Childrens Court
    • Family Court
    • Appeals
    • Glossary of court terms
  • Youth justice
• Contacts
  • Child safety service centres
  • Feedback and complaints
• Library
  • Fact sheets and brochures
  • Guides and manuals
  • Legislation
  • Websites

Child protection legislation

The Child Protection Act 1999 is the legal framework guiding the Department of Child Safety in child protection.

Core principles of the Act in relation to child protection are:

• the welfare and best interests of the child are paramount
• the preferred way of ensuring a child's welfare is through support of the child's family
• intervention is not to exceed the level necessary to protect the child
• family participation in planning and decision making for children
• consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies in decision-making regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• children and families have a right to information
• services are to be culturally appropriate
• coordination, consultation and collaboration with families, other professionals, agencies and the community
• accountability of the department.

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Last updated

3 August 2007