Australian state initially provided for orphaned child (4)
I believe the answer is:
waif
'orphaned child' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'australian state initially provided' is the wordplay.
'australian' becomes 'A'.
'state' becomes 'w' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'initially' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'provided' becomes 'if' (eg 'provided it's sunny' means 'if it's sunny').
'a' after 'w' is 'wa'.
'wa'+'if'='WAIF'
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for waif that I've seen before include "poor child" , "Someone very thin or underfed" , "Neglected, homeless child" , "Orphan" , "Homeless child - thin person" .)