State of Western Australia
The Department for Child Protection was the lead agency responsible for the care and protection of children in Western Australia. In October 2008, the Department for Child Protection ran 21 family group homes across the state. In May 2013 its name changed to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support.
The State Records Office agency description described the creation of the Department for Child Protection, saying it was:
created in response to a critical review of the Department of Community Development by Prudence Ford in January 2007. The review formed part of a series of departmental reviews announced by the Treasurer for the 2006/2007 financial year, but was given particular urgency due to the release of the Ombudsman's Report on Allegations Concerning the Treatment of Children and Young People in Residential Care and the report of the Select Committee on the Adequacy of Foster Care Assessment Procedures by the Department for Community Development.
The review recommended the abolition of the Department for Community Development and the establishment of two separate departments, namely the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and the Department for Communities. The review report was released by the State Government in March 2007. Through the administration of the Children and Community Services Act 2004, the Department for Child Protection is responsible for supporting families and individuals who are at risk or in crisis, and providing for the protection and care of children in circumstances where their parents have not provided, or are unlikely or unable to provide, that protection and care. Services focus on three key areas: 1. Supporting children and young people in the Chief Executive Officer's care. 2. Protecting children and young people from abuse. 3. Supporting individuals and families at risk or in crisis.
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
1874 - 1908 Superintendent of Poor Relief and Inspector of Charitable Institutions
1920 - 1926 Department of the North West
1920 - 1964 Fisheries Department
1898 - 1936 Chief Protector of Aborigines
1908 - 1917 Public Charities and State Children Department
1926 - 1936 Aborigines Department
1917 - 1927 State Children Department
1936 - 1954 Commissioner for Native Affairs
1936 - 1954 Department of Native Affairs
1927 - 1972 Child Welfare Department
1954 - 1972 Commissioner of Native Welfare
1955 - 1972 Department of Native Welfare
1972 - 1985 Department for Community Welfare
1985 - 1992 Department for Community Services
1992 - 1995 Department for Community Development
1995 - 2001 Department for Family and Children's Services
2001 - 2007 Department for Community Development
2007 - 2013 Department for Child Protection
2013 - 2017 Department for Child Protection and Family Support
2017 - Department of Communities
2017 - Child Protection and Family Support
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Government Gazette Western Australia No. 76', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 14 May 2013, https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg2013_076.pdf/$FILE/Gg2013_076.pdf; 'AU WA A1504 - Department for Child Protection', 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-child-protection-au-wa-a1504; Ford, Prudence, Review of the Department for Community Development: Review Report, Dept. For Community Development, Perth, W.A., 2007; Western Australia. Department for Community Services, Annual Report: Department for Community Services, Western Australia, Government of Western Australia, [Perth], 1985-1992; WA Parliament, Question On Notice No. 23 asked in the Legislative Council on 25 November 2008 by Hon Sue Ellery, Parliament: 38 Session: 1 - http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/pquest.nsf/969994fcf861850d4825718d002fe7fb/c5e24eec6b3ebdeac825750c0018f3cb?OpenDocument.
Prepared by: Debra Rosser
Created: 6 June 2011, Last modified: 20 December 2018