Child Guidance Clinics (1930 - )

From

1930s

Location

New South Wales

Child guidance clinics were established in the 1930s and formalised by the 1935 Child Welfare Act. An important motive in the development of child guidance clinics was to counteract 'juvenile delinquency', but the clinics did try to take a wholistic approach to the child's condition and tried to avoid placing children in care. Child guidance clinics used psychology and medicine to deal with difficult behaviour and help children adjust to challenging issues in their lives. Family members were frequently involved.