The Relief Division of the Social Services Department, and the Social Welfare Department that succeeded it, was established in the early 1950s. It provided financial and other assistance to people without enough money to meet everyday expenses. Family welfare work often involved both the Relief and the Child Welfare Divisions. After the early 1980s, the approach to relief changed and this category was no longer used.
The Relief Division gave financial assistance to deserted wives, single mothers, and wives of prisoners if they had dependent children. The women initially received a special grant but once they had taken 'reasonable' action to recover maintenance from the children's fathers, the Division paid them a regular allowance at the same rate as the Commonwealth widow's pension. After six months, they became eligible for the Commonwealth pension.
The Relief Division also paid funeral, transport, and removal expenses. It paid for artificial limbs or glasses and other similar necessities.
Sources used to compile this entry: Social Services Department: report for the year 1954-55, Social Services Department, Hobart, 1955; Department of Social Welfare: report for the year ended 30 June 1976, Department of Social Welfare, Hobart, 1976, 20 pp; Department for Community Welfare: annual report for the year ended 30 June 1984, Department for Community Welfare, Hobart, 1984.
Prepared by: Caroline Evans
Created: 13 August 2012, Last modified: 17 March 2014
Last updated: 4 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/tas/biogs/TE00520b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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