For tailored fact sheets and other information for children and young people themselves, see our Young People pages here.
Generally, a child is a person under 18 years of age.
Legislation
There are five main State Acts that specifically deal with children.
As well, there is the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Australia is a signatory.
To locate topic based information within the Law Handbook, please use the table below.
| Topic/s | Chapter/Section |
|---|---|
| parental responsibilities | Children and Young People, Parental rights and duties |
| physical discipline | Children and Young People, Physical discipline |
| legal age to babysit | Children and Young People, Legal age to babysit |
| leaving home | Children and Young People, Leaving home |
| medical treatment | Medical Treatment and Related Issues, Children under 16 years |
| youth treatment orders | Children and Young People, Assessment, treatment and detention orders for drug dependency |
|
body piercings tattooing body modification |
Criminal and Traffic Offences, Tattooing, body modification and body piercing |
| taking or defending legal action | Court - Suing and Being Sued, Children and civil claims |
| parental liability | Accidents and Injuries, Children and negligence |
|
crime young offenders |
Children and Young People, Young Offenders |
| bullying | Children and Young People, Bullying of children and young people |
| cyber stalking and cyber bullying | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Stalking, cyber stalking and cyber bullying |
| graffiti | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Graffiti |
| victims of crime | Victims of Crime, Children and young people |
| child sexual assault | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Offences against children, young people and vulnerable adults, Sexual offences |
| entering into contracts | Consumers - Contracts and Credit, Who can make a contract |
| employment | Employment, Young Workers |
| driving | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Driver's Licences, Learner's Permit |
| contraception, abortion | Family Relationships, Having a child, Contraception and abortion |
| alcohol, tobacco and other drugs | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Alcohol, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and other drugs |
| gambling | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Gambling |
| weapons | Criminal and Traffic Offences, Weapons |
| education | Children and Young People, Education |
We have factsheets for young people on a range of topics including:
These are all available to view or print from the Young People, Factsheets and Publications page.
We embrace diversity and welcome all people, irrespective of culture, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Legal Services acknowledges Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and ongoing occupants of the lands and waters in South Australia and we respect their spiritual, cultural and heritage beliefs. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay our deep respect to Elders past and present.
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