What is a family violence order?

A family violence order is an order made under a law of a state or territory to protect someone from family violence. Family violence orders have different names in different states: apprehended domestic violence orders (NSW), intervention orders ( Victoria ), protection orders ( Queensland and ACT), restraining orders ( South Australia , Western Australia and Northern Territory ) and restraint orders ( Tasmania ). Family violence orders typically prohibit one parent from coming within a set distance of another parent, or prohibit one parent from stalking or harassing the other parent. Sometimes family violence orders can contain limited exceptions, such as allowing contact between parents for the purpose of delivering or collecting a child.

Children can sometimes be included on family violence orders made for a parent. More commonly, child protection orders are made by a state Children’s Court where there are grounds for believing that a child is in need of protection.