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Western Australia - Publications Details

Resource Section

Authors
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Title
Submission No. 42 Inquiry into Child Migration
In
Inquiry into child migration
Editor
Senate Community Affairs Committee
Imprint
Commonwealth of Australia, 2001
Url
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/completed_inquiries/1999-02/child_migrat/submissions/sublist.htm
Description

The Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs submitted two documents to the Inquiry into Child Migration. The first submission gives the history of child and youth migration policy and practice in Australia during the twentieth century. The Department stated that its submission 'outlines the Commonwealth's role and responsibilities in respect of the various child migration schemes over the 20th century, describes the social and political context in which the schemes operated and sets out the measures that have been taken to assist former child migrants' (p.5). The Department gave an overview of how British children were 'selected' as child migrants: 'Case committees attached to recruiting organisations in the UK examine each child's details, before recommending emigration. Final selection of the children, based on medical examinations and general suitability as regards temperament and intelligence is made at Australia House, London' (page 22).

At the request of the Inquiry, the Department made a second submission (Supplementary Information) which gave some more details about the types of abuses that are mentioned in commonwealth government records, and the systems in place to ensure that the migrant children were actually being cared for properly. This supplementary information also explained the role of a guardian under the Immigration (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946.

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs' second submission to the Inquiry into Child Migration gave a summary of the inspection and reporting practices that were in place for post-World War Two child migration schemes:

An inspector (eg a State Welfare Officer) inspected the Home and produced a report that was submitted to children's Guardian in that State (as delegated by the Minister for Immigration)…The Delegate might request further information about the Home and confer with the relevant State authorities about any issues. These authorities may have been religious bodies responsible for the institutions in that State, as well as relevant State government authorities and State based Commonwealth authorities…The Delegate or the Commonwealth Migration Officer based in the State would send copies of reports to the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Immigration…The Secretary would respond to the reports…following up on particular problems drawn to his attention…The reports indicate that the inspectors concentrated mainly on the following features of the institutions -

  • Physical condition of the orphanage - age of buildings, cleanliness and size - and whether any buildings need extensions and/or renovations
  • Physical accommodation for the children - dormitories and locker rooms
  • Furniture and bedding
  • Physical condition of the class rooms
  • Equipment in the class rooms
  • Kitchen and Dining room
  • Laundry
  • Baths, showers and lavatories
  • Exercise and recreation facilities and grounds
  • Any farming facilities or live stock
  • The staff in attendance - male/female and numbers
Supplementary Information Pages 8-9

The reports on children's physical and emotional health were brief and general.

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