The State Children’s Council for the Northern Territory was established in 1930 under the provisions of the South Australian State Children Act 1895. The Council was responsible for the welfare of children placed under its care and control.
During the Second World War, when the Northern Territory Administration was evacuated from the Territory, the Council went into recess. It reconvened in 1950.
With the passing of the Northern Territory Child Welfare Ordinance in 1958, the Council was replaced by the Child Welfare Advisory Council.
Under the provisions of the State Children Act, the State Children’s Council was made up of ‘not more than twelve nor less than five persons’. For many years the membership of the Council comprised several ministers of religion, police officers and a medical doctor. In July 1950 the first woman was appointed to the Council. Prior to 1950 all members had been male.
In October 1950 a newspaper report pointed out that all the members of the Council lived in Darwin and that the Council lacked members to represent Alice Springs and Central Australia. As a result of this complaint, the Council approached community organisations in Central Australia and asked them to nominate potential representatives. The first Alice Springs based Council member, Sister Eileen Heath, was appointed to the State Children’s Council in June 1951.