Protections against family violence
Key legal tools that will protect you: “Protection orders” and “Police Safety Orders”
Protection orders made by the Family Court for long-term protection
Family Violence Act 2018, s 59
The key form of protection under the family violence laws is the Protection Order – a formal court order granted by the Family Court (or by the Criminal Courts in some cases).
This is the main way family violence laws try to protect victims of family violence and their children from future violence and abuse. The order names the person who has been violent or abusive (called “the respondent”), and says they must not be violent or abusive towards the person who applied for the order (“the applicant” – that’s you) or the applicant’s children. The order will also put various other conditions on the respondent about things they have to do or are not allowed to do.
For more information, see: “Applying for a Protection Order: Long-term protection against family violence” and “What a Protection Order does”.
Police Safety Orders: Immediate, short-term protection
Another very common form of protection provided by the Family Violence Act is Police Safety Orders. These provide immediate, short-term protection for people at risk from family violence. They’re issued by the police “on the spot” – the courts aren’t involved.
A PSO means that the person who’s been violent or abusive must leave the home and stay away from you for up to five days.
