The Health Act Amendment Act 1918 (9 Geo. V No. 7) was concerned with the spread of venereal disease and some amendments (section 242j) had an impact on young people in care. It was now compulsory for medical officers attached to industrial schools to examine residents who were suspected of having venereal disease (a power which was retained in the Act until repealed in 2004). The Act also enabled the Children’s Court to order that a child suspected of having veneral disease be examined either before or after admission to an industrial school.
The Health Act Amendment Act 1918 also included a new Division which required all Maternity or ‘lying-in’) Homes to be licensed by the Commissioner of Health rather than under the State Children Act 1907.