The St John of God Hospital (SJOGH) was opened by the Sisters of St John of God in the Perth suburb of Subiaco on 19 April 1898. It has been one of the largest hospitals in Western Australia. Many children in Catholic out of home care were treated at SJOGH Subiaco. Babies were born, fostered…
King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) has been Western Australia’s principal public maternity and gynaelogical hospital since 1916. Many young women in out of home care were admitted there, and many babies were adopted from KEMH. In 1958, following overcrowding in the maternity wards of KEMH, the state government purchased Kensington House, at 91 Hensman Road….
St Anne’s Nursing Home was a maternity and general hospital run by the Sisters of Mercy from 1937 in the Perth suburb of Mount Lawley. Many babies were adopted from St Anne’s. Around 1958, the Home became known as St Anne’s Maternity Home. St Anne’s Nursing Home was mentioned in the Commonwealth Contribution to Former…
Devonleigh Maternity Home was established in 1931, following an extension of the Devonleigh Hospital (which had opened in 1926). It was located in the Perth suburb of Peppermint Grove. It was privately run until 1948, when it was taken over by the State Government (most likely by the Public Health Department). Babies were adopted from…
The Children’s Protection Society (the Society) was established in Perth in 1906 as the extent of ‘child cruelty and neglect’ became more visible to the public. At a time when neglected children were seen as criminals, the Society showed that children were victims. It was a volunteer service aimed mainly at ensuring that illegitimate children…
St Margaret’s Hostel for ‘unmarried mothers and their babies’ was run by the Sisters of Mercy from 1918 as an extension of St Vincent’s Foundling Home in Subiaco. It is probable that babies from St Margaret’s were adopted, fostered or lived at St Vincent’s Foundling Home until they were old enough to be moved to…
The Family Care Society was one of the agencies that gave evidence to the Inquiry into the Welfare of Former British Child Migrants in 1998. At that time, it was a voluntary adoption agency in Northern Ireland, ‘working with the sending agencies in getting information, in tracing families and providing counselling and arranging for reunion…
The Department for Community Services (DCS) was the new name given on 1 January 1985 to the previous Department for Community Welfare. The DCS continued as the key government organisation responsible for child welfare in Western Australia until 1 October 1992, when it was replaced by the Department for Community Development.
The Department for Community Development was formed on 1 July 2001 as the key government organisation responsible for child welfare in Western Australia. It was the second version of a department with that name, with the earlier department operating from 1992 to 1995. The Department for Community Development ceased on 30 June 2007 and was…
The Western Australian Department for Family and Children’s Services existed between 1 July 1995 and 1 July 2001. The State Records Office website provides an overview of the Department: The Department for Family and Children’s Services was responsible for promoting and providing services that assisted families, individuals, groups and communities achieve their own well-being. Services…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
