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

Moving a child to a safe place

A child safety officer or police officer can move a child to a safe place in the following circumstances:

• the child is under 12 years of age
• a parent or other member of the child's family is not present and cannot be located
• a child is not safe but this is not a result of child protection issues.

The officer must move the child to a safe place or make arrangements for another reliable person to move them to a safe place where they can remain until they return to the care of the parents or a family member.

A safe place can be:

• the home of a neighbour who knows the child and parents
• the home of a relative or friend
• the child's family day care provider
• a hospital
• an approved foster placement
• a child safety service centre
• a police station.

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Last updated

3 August 2007