Department of Native Welfare (1955 - 1972)

State of Western Australia

From

1955

To

1972

Categories

Care Provider and Government Department

Alternative Names

DNW (acronym)

The Department of Native Welfare (DNW) operated from 1955, taking over the responsilibies of the Department of Native Affairs. The head of the Department, the Commissioner of Native Welfare, was the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children in Western Australia who were not already wards under the Child Welfare Act 1947. Following the Native Welfare Act 1963, the Commissioner ceased to be guardian, and could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children. The Department of Native Welfare ceased in 1972. Its remaining child welfare responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Community Welfare.

The Department of Native Welfare (DNW) operated from 1 January 1955 to 16 June 1972.

Timeline

1887 - 1890 Aborigines Protection Board
       1890 - 1898 Aborigines Protection Board
             1898 - 1908 Aborigines Department
                   1909 - 1920 Department of Aborigines and Fisheries
                   1909 - 1920 Department of Aborigines and Fisheries
                         1920 - 1926 Department of the North West
                         1920 - 1964 Fisheries Department
                               1926 - 1936 Aborigines Department
                                     1936 - 1954 Department of Native Affairs
                                           1955 - 1972 Department of Native Welfare
                                                 1972 - 1985 Department for Community Welfare
                                                 1972 - 1994 Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority
                                                       1985 - 1992 Department for Community Services
                                                       1994 - 2001 Aboriginal Affairs Department
                                                             1992 - 1995 Department for Community Development
                                                             2001 - 2013 Department of Indigenous Affairs
                                                                   1995 - 2001 Department for Family and Children's Services
                                                                   2013 - 2017 Department of Aboriginal Affairs
                                                                         2001 - 2007 Department for Community Development
                                                                               2007 - 2013 Department for Communities
                                                                               2007 - 2013 Department for Child Protection
                                                                                     2013 - 2017 Department of Local Government and Communities
                                                                                     2013 - 2017 Department for Child Protection and Family Support
                                                                                           2017 - Department of Communities
                                                                                           2017 - Department of Communities
                                                                                           2017 - Child Protection and Family Support
                                                                                           2017 - Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

Provided 'Care' At

Alvan House (1950 - 1961)
Date: 1955 - 1959
Bennett House (1952 - 1981)
Date: 1955 - 1972
Charles Perkins Hostel (1962 - 2000?)
Date: 1962 - 1972
Gilliamia Hostel (1971? - 1990)
Date: 1971? - 1972
Hamilton Hill Hostel (1971 - 1994?)
The Hamilton Hill Hostel may have been run by Department of Native Welfare in the first years of its operation.

Date: 1971? - 1972
Kartanup (1970 - 1984)
Date: 1970 - 1972
Kyarra Hostel (1961 - 1984)
Date: 1961 - 1972
Kyewong Hostel (1967? - 2002?)
Date: 1967? - 1970
McDonald House (1952 - 1985?)
Date: 1955 - 1958
Medina Education and Employment Hostel (1971? - 1983)
Date: 1971? - 1972
Millen Street Hostel (1970? - 1995?)
Date: 1970?
Moorgunyah Hostel (1967 - 1996?)
Nabberu Hostel (1971? - 1988)
Date: 1971? - 1972
Nindeebai Education Hostel (1971? - 1984)
Date: 1971? - 1972
Oolanyah Hostel (1970? - 1993?)
Date: 1971? - 1972
Warramboo Hostel, Yalgoo (1961 - 1980)
Weeriana Hostel (1964 - ?)

Related Archival Items

Related Archival Series

Related Concepts

Aboriginal Education and Employment Hostels (1950 - )
Aboriginal Protection (c. 1832 - c. 1972)
Commissioner of Native Welfare (1954 - 1972)
The Commissioner was the head of the Department of Native Welfare.

Related Legislation

Aborigines Act 1905 (1906 - 1964)
The Department of Native Welfare administered the Aborigines Act 1905 until it was repealed in 1963.

Date: 1955 - 1963
Community Welfare Act 1972 (1972 - 2006)
The responsibilities to Aboriginal children administered by the Department of Native Welfare were given to the Department for Community Welfare by the Community Welfare Act 1972.
Native Welfare Act 1954 (1955 - 1964)
The Department of Native Welfare administered the Native Welfare Act 1954.

Date: 1954 - 1963
Native Welfare Act 1963 (1963 - 1972)
The Department of Native Welfare administered the Native Welfare Act 1963.

Date: 1963 - 1972
Native Welfare Act Amendment Act 1960 (1960 - 1963)

Related Organisations

Applecross Cottage (1970 - 1986?)
Applecross Cottage was operated by church agencies under an agreement with the Department of Native Welfare.

Date: 1970 - 1972
Ardross House (1971 - 2004?)
Ardross House was run by the Methodist Overseas Mission under agreement with the Department of Native Welfare.

Date: 1971 - 1972
Australian Aboriginal Evangelical Mission Hostel (1966 - 1980?)
The Australian Aboriginal Evangelical Mission Hostel received financial assistance from the Department of Native Welfare.

Date: 1966 - 1972
Bedford Hostel (1971 - 2009)
Bedford Hostel was run by Edwards Business College on behalf of the Department of Native Welfare, State of Western Australia.

Date: 1971 - 1972
Katukutu Employment Hostel (1958 - 1982?)
Katukutu Employment Hostel was managed by the Baptist Union under agreement with the Department of Native Welfare.

Date: 1961 - 1972
Pallottine Mission, Tardun (1948 - 2004)
The Department of Native Welfare, State of Western Australia could make regulations for the 'control, care and education of the children' at Pallottine Mission, Tardun.
St Mary's Mission, New Norcia (1848 - 1974)
The Department of Native Welfare placed wards of the state at St Mary's Mission from at least the early 1960's

Date: 1960s - 1972
United Aborigines Mission, Halls Creek (1957 - 1967)
Warminda Hostel (1968 - 1984)
Warminda Hostel was run by the Methodist Homes for Children under agreement with the Department of Native Welfare.

Date: 1968 - 1972
Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Hostel (c. 1954 - c. 1974)

Publications

Reports

Western Australia. Department of Native Welfare, Annual Report: Department of Native Welfare, Dept. Of Native Welfare,, Perth [W.A.], 1955-1972. Details

Online Resources

'Western Australia Protectors Reports 1899-1959', in To Remove and Protect: Aboriginal Lives Under Control [website], Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, National Library of Australia, http://aiatsis.gov.au/collections/collections-online/digitised-collections/remove-and-protect/western-australia. Details
'Aboriginal History', in State Records Office of Western Australia website, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2012, https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/state-records-office-of-western-australia/aboriginal-history. Details
'AU WA A39 - Department for Community Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-for-community-welfare-au-wa-a39. Details
'AU WA A48 - Department of Native Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-of-native-welfare-au-wa-a48. Details
To Remove and Protect: Aboriginal Lives Under Control [website], 2010, https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/remove-and-protect. Details
Department for Community Development, State of Western Australia, 'Submission No. 55 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist. Details
Foster, Darren J, 'Submission No. 347 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, 3 April 2004, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist. Details

Photos

Title: The 'Homes' Herald 1965 [Methodist Homes for Children]
Type: Document
Date: December 1965
Source: Uniting Church (Synod of Western Australia) Archives
Note: The Department of Native Welfare and the Methodist Homes for Children were planning a hostel for Aboriginal girls in Mt Lawley, reported the December 1965 edition of The ‘Homes’ Herald.

Details

Title: The 'Homes' Herald, 1966 [Methodist Homes for Children]
Type: Document
Date: December 1966
Source: Uniting Church (Synod of Western Australia) Archives
Note: The Department of Native Welfare provided and fitted out a house that was used by the Methodist Homes for Children as a hostel for Aboriginal girls in Mt Lawley. Photos and information were included in the December 1966 edition of The ‘Homes’ Herald.

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'AU WA A39 - Department for Community Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-for-community-welfare-au-wa-a39; 'AU WA A48 - Department of Native Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-of-native-welfare-au-wa-a48; To Remove and Protect: Aboriginal Lives Under Control [website], 2010, https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/remove-and-protect.

Prepared by: Debra Rosser

Created: 15 March 2011, Last modified: 22 December 2014

Department of Native Welfare (1955 - 1972)