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Western Australia - Organisation
Public Charities and State Children Department (1908 - 1917)
State of Western Australia
- From
- 1 January 1908
- To
- 1 January 1917
- Categories
- Government Department, Care Provider, Adoption Agency
- Alternative Names
-
- State Children's Department
- Charities Department
- Location
-
The Public Charities and State Children Department was established in 1908, following the passage of the State Children Act of 1907. This Act established the State Children's Department which operated in conjunction with the Public Charities Department and was known as the Public Charities and State Children's Department. Previously, child welfare had been the responsibility of the Superintendent of Poor Relief and Charitable Institutions, part of the Colonial Secretary's Office. In 1917 the title of the Department was changed to the State Children's Department.
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The State Records Office website provides an overview of the Public Charities and State Children Department:
' Responsibility for, and activities aimed at the protection of children culminated in the passing of the State Children Act of 1907 (proclaimed March 1908). This Act established the State Children's Department which operated in conjunction with the Public Charities Department and was known as the Public Charities and State Children's Department. The Act also established the first Children's Court in January 1908, which was responsible to the State Children's Department.
In 1917 the title of the Department was changed to State Children's Department. '
A letter of appreciation for the donation from The Daily News Orphans' Christmas Cheer Fund in 1915 gives an insight into life as a State Child, where donations from the public gave extras to the children that were not part of their normal life:
'430 poor children benefitted from your generosity. Each of the children were granted 2s. 6d…I again sincerely thank you on behalf of the large number of children whose Christmas was rendered happier by your liberality than it might have been otherwise.Letter, 3 February 1916 published in The Daily News 2 December 1916'
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, State of Western Australia
- Series Title
- Files - Community Welfare ("A" Series), State Records Office of Western Australia (1908 - 1990)
- Date Range
- 1908 - 1990
- Reference
-
Series 1099
[State Records Office of Western Australia Reference code]
- Contact
-
For access to records controlled by the Department of Communities and its predecessors, please contact the Department of Communities Freedom of Information Unit:
Postal Address: Freedom of Information, Department of Communities, Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Phone: (08) 6414 3344
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website :https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/department-of-communities-freedom-of-information-foi
DETAILS
- Collection Title
- Hillcrest Records (1912 - 1974)
- Date Range
- 1912 - 1974
- Reference
-
-
- Contact
-
Please contact Adoption Services:
Street Address: 5 Newman Court, Fremantle, WA 6160
Postal Address: Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle, WA 6959
Phone: 1800 182 178
Email: adoptions@communities.wa.gov.au
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Former Child Migrants Referral Index (1913 - 1968)
- Date Range
- 1913 - 1968
- Reference
-
-
- Contact
-
For access to records controlled by the Department of Communities and its predecessors, please contact the Department of Communities Freedom of Information Unit:
Postal Address: Freedom of Information, Department of Communities, Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Phone: (08) 6414 3344
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website :https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/department-of-communities-freedom-of-information-foi
DETAILS
- Collection Title
- Records of the Department of Child Protection and Family Support, and predecessors (1894 - )
- Date Range
- 1894 -
- Reference
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-
- Contact
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DETAILS
Report by the Superintendent of Public Charities, 1910
Charities Department building
