Child Protection Orders (CPOs)
What is a Child Protection Order or CPO?
A CPO is an order made by the court where it has been determined that the child is in need of protection.
Child Safety must then prove that:
• Harm has, or is likely to occur and
• There are no parents willing and able to provide protection for the child.
Before a CPO is issued, the court considers:
• Whether parent/s have been given the court documents (or reasonable attempts were made by Child Safety to do this).
• Whether an appropriate Case Plan has been made & shown to the Court.
• If the order has been contested, a Case Conference was held.
• Whether the child’s views or requests have been publicised to the Court (if possible).
• A parent/s’ criminal, traffic and domestic violence history and reports undertaken by Child Safety (and if required, reports on other adult members in your household).
• Whether the protection of the child can be achieved by less intrusive terms.