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 followed by the Department for Communities and the Department for Child Protection which were established on 1 July 2007.
The State Records Office website provides an overview of the Department:
The Department for Community Development was formed on 1 July 2001 to integrate the Department of Family and Children’s Services, the Family and Children’s Policy Office, the Office of Senior’s Interests, the Women’s Policy Office and the Office of Youth Affairs.
On 1 March 2006, the Children and Community Services Act took effect. This legislation repealed previous Acts under which the Department [for] Community Development operated.