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Organisation Child Welfare Department (1927 - 1972)

State of Western Australia

From
22 December 1927
To
15 June 1972
Categories
Care Provider and Government Department

Summary

The Child Welfare Department of Western Australia was responsible for the welfare of children in out of home care for much of the twentieth century. Known as the 'CWD' or 'the welfare', the department had an impact on the lives of many WA families. The CWD ran its own Children's Homes, 'placed' children in other Children's Homes or Foster Homes and organised adoptions. It licensed and inspected the places and people who were registered to provide care and kept statistics on the number of children who were in care. The CWD also had the power to bring children before the Children's Court.

The State Records Office website gives an overview of the history of the Child Welfare Department:

In 1927 the State Children Act Amendment Act was passed changing the name of the principal Act and the State Children's Department to Child Welfare Act and Child Welfare Department respectively. Responsibility for the Child Welfare function remained with the Chief Secretary until 1931 when it was passed to the Minister for Mines.

In 1934 a separate portfolio was created for child welfare. The Child Welfare Department was abolished in 1972 and its functions passed to the newly created Department for Community Welfare.

Until 1972, the Child Welfare Department shared responsibility for the 'care and control' of children who were 'Aboriginal Wards' with the Department of Native Welfare and its predecessors.

Timeline

 1874 - 1908 Superintendent of Poor Relief and Inspector of Charitable Institutions
       1908 - 1917 Public Charities and State Children Department
             1917 - 1927 State Children Department
                   1927 - 1972 Child Welfare Department
                         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 - Department for Communities
                                                       2007 - Department for Child Protection

Related Archival Items

Related Archival Series

Related People

  • Watson, Sydney

    At his retirement in 1932, Sydney Watson was Secretary of the Child Welfare Department.

Publications

Books

  • Knight, Ivor Alan, Out of darkness : growing up with the Christian brothers, Fremantle Arts Centre Press, South Fremantle, 1998. Details
  • Whittington, Vera, Sister Kate: a life dedicated to children in need of care, University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia, 1999. Details

Reports

  • Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1935, Child Welfare Department., Government of Western Australia, 1935. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1930, Government of Western Australia, 1930. Report on activities from the Department to the Parliament of Western Australia, produced annually. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1931, Government of Western Australia, 1931. Report on activities from the Department to the Parliament of Western Australia, produced annually. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1931, Government of Western Australia, 1931. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1932, Government of Western Australia, 1932. Report on activities from the Department to the Parliament of Western Australia, produced annually. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1953, Government of Western Australia, 1953. Report on activities from the Department to the Parliament of Western Australia, produced annually. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1965, Government of Western Australia, 30 June 1965. Details
  • Child Welfare Department, Annual Report of the Child Welfare Department for the Year Ended 30th June 1970, Government of Western Australia, 1970. Report on activities from the Department to the Parliament of Western Australia, produced annually. Details
  • Western Australia Child Welfare Department, Annual report of the Child Welfare Department for the year ended 30th June, Government Printer, Perth, 1903-1956. Details

Statutes

Online Resources

Gallery

Title
Happy and Carefree Natures Caught By the Cameraman In These Studies of Young Western Australians
Type
Image
Date
5 February 1939
Source
National Library of Australia

Details

Title
Their Home a Garage
Type
Image
Date
19 February 1947
Source
National Library of Australia

Details

Title
Boys Behind Iron Bars
Type
Image
Date
15 August 1954
Source
National Library of Australia

Details

Title
Adoption of Children Act Amendment Act 1964
Type
Document
Date
23 December 1964
Source
State Law Publisher of Western Australia

Details

Prepared by: Leanne Howard and Debra Rosser