In South Australia the law concerning the protection of children is contained in the Children's Protection Act 1993. The objects of the Act are to ensure:

What does the Children's Protection Act do?

The Children's Protection Act 1993 gives authority to the Department of Families and Communities (i.e. Families SA) to intervene when a child is at risk. This intervention can take several forms including removing the child from their parents’ care. However, removal of a child is done as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.

When is a child defined as being ‘at risk’?

There are four types of child abuse as recognised by the Children's Protection Act 1993:

A child is considered to be at risk if there is a significant chance they will suffer serious harm to their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing and they do not have proper protection. This risk may be as a result of abuse, neglect or the inability of a guardian or parent to care for and protect a child. Protection includes adequate supervision and control of the child, so if a parent is unable (or unwilling) to provide this then the child can  be considered to be at risk. A child under the age of 15 with no fixed address will also meet this criterion, as will a child of compulsory school age who has been persistently absent from school without satisfactory explanation.