Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
New South Wales - Legislation

Aborigines Act 1969 (1969 - 1983)

  • Aborigines Act 1969

    Aborigines Act 1969, courtesy of NSW legislation.
    Details

From
1969
To
1983
Categories
Principal Act
Website
https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1969-7

The Aborigines Act 1969 (37/1969) was 'An Act to make provisions with respect to matters concerning Aborigines; to repeal the Aborigines Protection Act, 1909, and certain other Acts; to amend the Attachment of Wages Limitation Act, 1957.' It was a landmark Act that abolished the Aborigines Welfare Board and moved all Aboriginal children into the same welfare system as non-Aboriginal children. It made Aboriginal children who had been under the care of the Aborigines Welfare Board wards of the State. Aboriginal children's institutions were deemed to be depots under child welfare legislation. The Act reflected changing attitudes to Aboriginal people and the passage of the 1967 referendum. The new Act established Aboriginal Welfare Services in the Department of Child Welfare and Social Welfare; the Directorate of Aboriginal Welfare and the Aborigines Advisory Council. This Act was amended in 1973 and repealed in 1983 by the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

Timeline

 1909 - 1969 Aborigines Protection Act 1909
       1969 - 1983 Aborigines Act 1969

Related Concepts

Related Glossary Terms

Related Organisations

Publications

Journals

  • New South Wales. Aborigines Welfare Board (ed.), Annual report of the Aborigines Welfare Board for the year ended …, Government Printer, 1949-1968. Details

Reports

  • Department of Child Welfare and Social Welfare, Report of the Minister for Social Welfare on the working of the Aborigines Act, 1969., Government Printer, Sydney, 1970. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Aborigines Act 1969
Title
Aborigines Act 1969
Type
Document
Date
1969
Source
NSW legislation

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: New South Wales. Aborigines Welfare Board (ed.), Annual report of the Aborigines Welfare Board for the year ended …, Government Printer, 1949-1968; Thinee, Kristy and Bradford, Tracy, Connecting Kin: Guide to Records, A guide to help people separated from their families search for their records [completed in 1998], New South Wales Department of Community Services, Sydney, New South Wales, 1998, https://clan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/connectkin_guide.pdf.

Prepared by: Naomi Parry and Liam Hogan