In the context of the Australian child protection systems in operation in each state and territory, abuse in care refers to instances of abuse of children in out-of-home care, on third party parental orders, or on other orders that transfer full or partial parental responsibility for the child to an authority of the State. It can involve physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

Abuse in care includes instances where the person held responsible is:

a) the approved carer

b) another person living in the household or care facility, including other children

c) an employee of the responsible care service/agency or government department

d) a person not living in the household, where a person in (a) or (c) above failed to protect the child, or the action or inaction of a person in (a) or (c) contributed to the abuse.