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Western Australia - Organisation

Department for Child Protection (2007 - 2013)

State of Western Australia

From
1 July 2007
To
16 May 2013
Categories
Adoption Agency, Care Provider and Government Department

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.

Details

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.

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
                         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

Related Legislation

Related Organisations

Publications

Reports

  • Ford, Prudence, Review of the Department for Community Development: Review Report, Dept. For Community Development, Perth, W.A., 2007. Details
  • Western Australia. Department for Child Protection., Annual Report: Department for Child Protection, Government of Western Australia, East Perth, W.A., 2007-2013. Details
  • Western Australia. Department for Community Services, Annual Report: Department for Community Services, Western Australia, Government of Western Australia, [Perth], 1985-1992. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (WA)
Title
Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (WA)
Type
Document
Date
2004

Details

Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Regulations 2005 (WA)
Title
Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Regulations 2005 (WA)
Type
Document
Date
2005

Details

Children and Community Services Regulations 2006 (WA)
Title
Children and Community Services Regulations 2006 (WA)
Type
Document
Date
2006

Details

Parental Support and Responsibility Act 2008 (WA)
Title
Parental Support and Responsibility Act 2008 (WA)
Type
Document
Date
2008

Details

Parental Support and Responsibility Regulations 2009 (WA)
Title
Parental Support and Responsibility Regulations 2009 (WA)
Type
Document
Date
2009

Details

Lives threatened by hostel fire
Title
Lives threatened by hostel fire
Type
Document
Date
28 February 2009

Details

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