Please contact the State Records Office of Western Australia:
Postal Address: 25 Francis Street, Perth, WA 6000
Phone: (08) 9427 3600
Email: sro@sro.wa.gov.au
Quote this number to access your records: State Records Office of Western Australia Series Number, S3172
These records are held by State Records Office of Western Australia (24 July 2001 - current).
‘Files – Child Welfare’ is a large series of files on administrative matters relating to the welfare of children in out of home care in Western Australia from 1917 to 1972. It contains files created by the State Children’s Department and the Child Welfare Department. Many records in this series directly relate to the administration of children’s homes, and some records name children and young people who came into contact with the Department or other agencies. The records also document actual and proposed policy and practice, and correspondence with private agencies and inter-state government departments involved in child welfare.
This series includes records with both open and restricted access. Open access records can be ordered from SROWA by any member of the public. Individuals will need to apply to the Department of Communities, Freedom of Information Unit in order to access restricted records.
This series includes records relating to state and privately run children’s homes, children’s courts, state wards, child migration, foster care, boarding out, and adoption.
It also contains records relating to the passing of legislation, records relating to policy development, and correspondence with external agencies and other state government departments, including child welfare departments in other states.
The below document contains a list of items in this series that may be of relevance to Care Leavers. The items are arranged by the Home/Institution or theme that they refer to.