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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.
Related Entries
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
Provided 'care' at
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
- Adoption of Children Act Amendment Act 1964, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 23 December 1964. Also available at http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_6308_homepage.html. Details
Online Resources
- 'Labour of Love', The West Australian, 23 January 1941, p. 9, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47304456. Details
- 'Where the Little Wards of the State are Drafted', Sunday Times, Sunday Times, 18 August 1935, p. 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59448850. Details
- 'Happy and Carefree Natures Caught By the Cameraman In These Studies of Young Western Australians', Sunday Times, Sunday Times, 5 February 1939, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59000153. Details
- 'Their Home a Garage', The Daily News, The Daily News, 19 February 1947, p. 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78551437. Details
- 'Mt. Lawley Reception Home's Detention Methods Are Primitive - But They Have A Tough Job', Sunday Times, 15 August 1954, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59693713. Details
- 'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 29', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 20 March 1970, http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/gazette.nsf/gazlist/3F8FBF907B4EA1EDC82574B30005ED82/$file/gg029.pdf. Details
- 'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 33', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 6 April 1970, http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/gazette.nsf/gazlist/CEF75BA8401E1433C82574B3007EB449/$file/gg033.pdf. Details
- 'Submission No. 25 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, 23 May 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 184 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, 19 August 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 172 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, 11 September 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 97 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, 14 July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 85 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, 1 July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 287 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, 23 December 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 414 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, 15 July 2004, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 483 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, 1 November 2004, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 365 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, 25 March 2004, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 34 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, 5 July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 319 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, 17 March 2005, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 11 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, 2005, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- 'Submission No. 257 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, 17 March 2005, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Child Welfare Department , State of Western Australia (1927-1972) Agency Detail (State Records Office), Archive Collection of Western Australia, with State Records Office of Western Australia, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2012, http://aeon.sro.wa.gov.au/Investigator/Details/Agency_Detail.asp?Id=38. Details
- Catholic Welfare Australia, 'Submission No. 71 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_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Coldrey, Barry, 'Submission No. 40 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, 19 April 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Congregation of the Christian Brothers WA and SA, 'Submission No. 65 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_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Crouch, RW, 'Adoption of Children', The West Australian, The West Australian, 20 October 1928, p. 21, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32231564. 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_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. 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_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- Mofflyn, 'Submission No. 160 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, August 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- The International Association of Former Child Migrants and Their Families, 'Submission No. 129 Inquiry into Child Migration', in Inquiry into child migration - Submissions which may be accessed electronically, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, January 2001, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/1999-02/child_migrat/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
- The International Association of Former Child Migrants and Their Families, 'Submission No. 254 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 November 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist.htm. Details
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
- Title
- Adoption of Children Act Amendment Act 1964
- Type
- Document
- Date
- 23 December 1964
- Source
- State Law Publisher of Western Australia
Prepared by: Leanne Howard and Debra Rosser
Created: 6 June 2011, Last modified: 12 June 2012
Last updated: 22 March 2013
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/wa/biogs/WE00364b.htm
First published by the Find and Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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