State of Western Australia
The Department of Native Welfare (DNW) operated from 1955, taking over the responsilibies of the Department of Native Affairs. The head of the Department, the Commissioner of Native Welfare, was the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children in Western Australia who were not already wards under the Child Welfare Act 1947. Following the Native Welfare Act 1963, the Commissioner ceased to be guardian, and could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children. The Department of Native Welfare ceased in 1972. Its remaining child welfare responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Community Welfare.
The Department of Native Welfare (DNW) operated from 1 January 1955 to 16 June 1972.
1887 - 1890 Aborigines Protection Board
1890 - 1898 Aborigines Protection Board
1898 - 1908 Aborigines Department
1909 - 1920 Department of Aborigines and Fisheries
1909 - 1920 Department of Aborigines and Fisheries
1920 - 1926 Department of the North West
1920 - 1964 Fisheries Department
1926 - 1936 Aborigines Department
1936 - 1954 Department of Native Affairs
1955 - 1972 Department of Native Welfare
1972 - 1985 Department for Community Welfare
1972 - 1994 Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority
1985 - 1992 Department for Community Services
1994 - 2001 Aboriginal Affairs Department
1992 - 1995 Department for Community Development
2001 - 2013 Department of Indigenous Affairs
1995 - 2001 Department for Family and Children's Services
2013 - 2017 Department of Aboriginal Affairs
2001 - 2007 Department for Community Development
2007 - 2013 Department for Communities
2007 - 2013 Department for Child Protection
2013 - 2017 Department of Local Government and Communities
2013 - 2017 Department for Child Protection and Family Support
2017 - Department of Communities
2017 - Department of Communities
2017 - Child Protection and Family Support
2017 - Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
Sources used to compile this entry: 'AU WA A39 - Department for Community Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-for-community-welfare-au-wa-a39; 'AU WA A48 - Department of Native Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-of-native-welfare-au-wa-a48; To Remove and Protect: Aboriginal Lives Under Control [website], 2010, https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/remove-and-protect.
Prepared by: Debra Rosser
Created: 15 March 2011, Last modified: 22 December 2014