Anyone in any of these relationships can apply for a Protection Order :

• Man and wife married according to civil, customary or religious law
• Gay or lesbian couple
• People living together who aren’t married
• People who are engaged
• People who are dating
• People who share the same home (housemates, boarding schools, university residences, and so on)
• Family members of the abused
• Parents of a child or people responsible for a child
• A child under the age of 21, without the help of a parent or guardian
• Any person, including a health service provider, police officer, social worker, teacher, neighbour, friend, relative, minister, who has a material interest (not just being a busybody) in a victim’s wellbeing provided that the victim consents. No consent from the victim is needed if the victim is a child, mentally retarded, unconscious or for other good reason isn’t able to consent.

The Domestic Violence Act says if a person believes a child is being abused they don’t have to get the child’s permission before getting a Protection Order. It is enough to believe that the child is being abused.