Every year across Australia, more than 100,000 people obtain a family violence protection order.

For some victim-survivors, protection orders provide a much-needed safety net. They can help prevent further violence from occurring.

Protection orders are future looking. They aim to stop a specific person (the respondent) using family violence against the victim-survivor in the future.

While they can be helpful, the system is far from perfect. Here’s how these orders work and what could be done to improve them.

What is a protection order?

When a victim-survivor has experienced, or is experiencing family violence, they may apply for a protection order. Any adult, and in some places children, can apply.

Evidence shows most orders are made to protect women against their current or previous male intimate partner. In some places, it’s common for police to apply for the order to protect the victim-survivor.

Generally, a magistrate can make a final protection order when they are satisfied the respondent has committed family violence against the victim-survivor and is likely to continue to do so, or to do so again.

A protection order includes conditions. These may include that the respondent must not commit family violence, that they stay a certain distance away from the victim-survivor’s home, work, or school........

© The Conversation