This information is for people caring for a child who is a child protection client.
Child protection client
A ‘child protection client’ is a child or young person up to the age of 25 years who is subject to:
- A Children’s Court interim accommodation order
- A Children’s Court protection order, or
- Another child protection arrangement.
Permanent carer
A child in a permanent care arrangement is not considered a ‘child protection client’. This is the case even if they were involved with the child protection program in the past.
A permanent care order is an order made by the Children’s Court. It grants parental responsibility to a person who is not:
- The child’s parent or
- The DFFH.
This person is known as a ‘permanent carer’. The permanent care order remains in effect until the child turns 18 years or marries.
A permanent carer can apply for a birth certificate for the child in their care, like a parent or guardian. Learn more about the requirements that different types of applicants need to meet.
Who can register births or apply for birth certificates for child protection clients?
- The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) child protection practitioner can.
- You can’t – DFFH policy outlines that only a DFFH child protection practitioner can do this.
To get the child’s birth certificate, or register their birth
Contact one of the following:
- The child's DFFH child protection practitioner
- Their supervisor, if you can't get in contact with the child's practitioner; or
- The local DFFH office(opens in a new window).
Learn more about who can register a birth or apply for birth certificates for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children with the child protection program.
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