Our dedicated Melbourne child protection lawyers advocate for children’s rights, providing expert legal guidance in family law and child protection cases.
Receive professional advice to address complex family law issues, ensuring the best interests of children are protected and prioritised.
We work to uphold the safety, wellbeing and legal rights of children who are at risk of abuse, involved in complex family law matters or departmental investigations.
Our team provides empathetic, supportive assistance during challenging times, helping families reach fair and effective resolutions with sensitivity.
Our team of experienced child protection family lawyers is dedicated to protecting the rights and wellbeing of children at the centre of complex family law cases and child protection issues. We understand the extremely emotional nature of matters relating to child abuse, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) investigations, foster care and high-conflict parenting – and the impact these matters have on everyone involved.
We offer empathetic legal support to help you and your family address complex legal processes, ensuring that the child’s best interests are always at the forefront. With sensitivity and care, we aim to provide peace of mind during difficult family situations, advocating for outcomes that protect your child’s future.
Family law matters involving child protection are incredibly sensitive and require the utmost care and attention. Our Melbourne-based child protection lawyers are dedicated to supporting families through challenging situations involving child safety, abuse, and neglect. We provide expert legal guidance to families and their children when involved with Federal Circuit and Family Court proceedings, child protection cases, and family violence matters.
Our team will work tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of children is prioritised and that protective measures are put in place to minimise the effects of the children at the centre of these matters. We truly believe that having the right legal support can make all the difference in the outcomes of vulnerable children during these times.
If you’re facing concerns about your child’s safety, our team is here to help you protect their future.
We offer legal support to families facing DFFH child protection investigations. Our experienced team helps you understand the investigation process, your rights when dealing with child protection workers, and how to respond to allegations. We provide guidance on preparing for interviews, addressing concerns about your child’s safety, managing initial investigations and provide legal representation at hearings or court proceedings.
Additionally, we will ensure you are treated fairly throughout the entire process, advocating for positive outcomes, and ensuring the protection of your family’s interests throughout the investigation process. We are here to provide the professional guidance you need during challenging times, ensuring that your child’s wellbeing remains at the heart of every decision.
We specialise in assisting children and families affected by domestic violence. Our services include legal support for Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs), recovery orders and organising supervised visitations or no-contact when required, ensuring that your child’s safety and wellbeing are the top priority.
We provide tailored, compassionate guidance to help you address complex legal matters while creating long-term, protective solutions for your family. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Expert legal support in cases of child abuse or neglect, prioritising your child’s safety and working to hold those responsible accountable.
Legal support during child welfare investigations, helping to respond to investigations and ensuring children’s best interests are always considered.
Securing protective orders and legal measures for those experiencing domestic violence, ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing are safeguarded.
We offer dedicated legal support for families facing foster care proceedings. We advocate for children’s best interests and help you understand your rights and responsibilities.
Guiding families through the adoption process, offering legal advice, supporting applications and ensuring that all steps are completed for a smooth transition.
Assisting families seeking kinship orders and providing legal expertise to ensure the child’s welfare is prioritised while helping you understand the responsibilities and legal aspects of kinship care.
Assistance in obtaining emergency intervention orders to protect children from immediate harm, providing urgent legal solutions in times of crisis.
Securing parenting orders that prioritise your child’s safety, ensuring appropriate care and protection for your child in all circumstances.
Expert legal representation and support throughout Children’s Court proceedings, ensuring your family’s interests are protected, from hearings to final decisions, with clear guidance.
We assist in securing urgent location orders when a child’s whereabouts are unknown or when there’s an immediate need for intervention to ensure safety.
We help parents obtain recovery orders when a child has been unlawfully removed or is being withheld, ensuring swift action is taken to reunite the child with the appropriate guardian.
We provide legal guidance and support in cases involving parental alienation or high-conflict relationships, working to protect your child’s wellbeing and ensure a fair outcome for all involved.
We offer legal guidance and support for families working toward reunification, ensuring safe and appropriate steps are taken to rebuild relationships.
Book an appointment with one of our experienced and trusted Child Protection Lawyers today. We’ll guide you through the process of child protection matters, ensuring you are supported every step of the way.
The team at Tonkin Family Lawyers is here to support your family. Book an appointment today.
PARTNER – Accredited Specialist in Family Law
St John Heath is a Partner at Tonkin Legal Group and a leading Family Lawyer in Victoria.
Accredited Specialist in Family Law
Richard Tonkin is a Consultant Lawyer and one of Victoria’s most experienced and respected Family Lawyers.
Engaging with the process through meetings, assessments, or court hearings is important for responding to concerns raised by DFFH. Seek legal advice from a family lawyer experienced in child protection law to understand how to respond appropriately to protect your child and parental rights.
Yes, child protection services can remove a child without a court order if there is an immediate risk to the child’s safety. However, the Children’s Court must be involved within a set period to review the situation and make a formal decision.
As a parent, you have the right to be informed of any concerns about your child’s safety, to respond to allegations, and to participate in court hearings. You also have the right to seek legal advice to ensure your rights are upheld throughout the court process.
To challenge a Child Protection order, you can attend the Children’s Court and provide evidence that the order is not in the child’s best interest. It’s important to seek legal services from experienced lawyers who specialise in child protection law to understand your rights and develop a strategy for contesting the order.
Child Protection Orders can include interim orders, long-term orders, or supervision orders. These orders are made to ensure the child’s safety, with varying levels of involvement from the DFFH, from short-term monitoring to long-term care arrangements.
To regain custody after a Child Protection Order, you must demonstrate to the court that the concerns have been addressed. This might involve making changes to the home environment, attending counselling, or complying with conditions set out in the order. Legal advice is crucial in this process.
At a child protection court hearing, the DFFH presents its case, and the judge considers evidence from all parties, including parents, caregivers, and childcare workers. The court will decide whether to make a Child Protection Order or take other actions to ensure the child’s safety.
If you believe the DFFH has mishandled your case, you can make a formal complaint through their complaints process. If needed, you can also seek advice from Victoria Legal Aid or an experienced lawyer to understand your options and ensure your concerns are properly addressed.
A Child Protection plan is a set of actions designed to ensure the child’s safety and wellbeing. It may involve case management, monitoring and regular meetings with childcare workers. The plan is tailored to address the specific concerns raised during the investigation.
An Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL) is appointed in family law matters to represent the best interests of the child under the Family Law Act. The ICL is independent of both parents and works with the court to ensure the child’s voice is heard in decisions related to parenting matters, child protection, and youth justice matters, often in the Children’s Court of Victoria.
Protect your child’s best interest – Book an appointment today with our skilled Melbourne child protection lawyers for trusted legal support.
Tonkin Law is committed to protecting the privacy of our clients. Our team uphold the highest protection policies to minimise risk. Read more about our policy here.
Contact us today on (03) 9435 9044
8-10 Flintoff Street
Greensborough
VIC 3088
Email: mail@tonkinlaw.com
Fax (03) 9435 2452
PO Box 241, Greensborough VIC 3088DX98803 Greensborough