Does my child in Australia need to be approved as a sponsor before I apply for the subclass 870 visa?

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa is a two-stage process. First, the child in Australia (an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen) applies to become an approved family sponsor.

Only once that sponsorship is approved can the parent lodge the visa application. Lodging the visa before the sponsorship is approved is a common mistake, so confirm the sponsor's approval is in place first.