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Western Australia - Organisation

Department for Community Welfare (1972 - 1985)

  • Department for Community Welfare, Logo

    Department for Community Welfare, Logo, 1976, courtesy of Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Department for Community Welfare, Western Australia , Annual Report 1976.
    Details

State of Western Australia

From
1972
To
1985
Categories
Adoption Agency, Care Provider and Government Department

The Department for Community Welfare was established in 1972, and was the key government organisation responsible for child welfare in Western Australia. It took over the Child Welfare Department and the responslbilities to Aboriginal children held by the Department of Native Welfare and Commissioner of Native Welfare. The Department for Community Welfare was replaced by the Department of Community Services in 1985.

Details

Under the Child Welfare Act Amendment Act (No. 2) 1972 the functions of the Child Welfare Department were transferred to the Department of Community Welfare.

In the same year, the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act of 1972 repealed the Native Welfare Act 1963 and the remaining functions of the Department of Native Welfare, including the responsibilites to Aboriginal children held by the Commissioner of Native Welfare, were transferred to the Department of Community Welfare from 1 July 1972.

The functions of the Department for Community Welfare, as defined by the Community Welfare Act 1972 included: promoting individual and family welfare in the community; to conduct, promote and encourage programmes of training or rehabilitation; and, to provide assistance when the welfare of any individual, family or group is threatened or in jeopardy.

The Department for Community Welfare was abolished and its name changed to the Department for Community Services on 1 January 1985.

Timeline

 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
                         1874 - 1908 Superintendent of Poor Relief and Inspector of Charitable Institutions
                         1920 - 1926 Department of the North West
                         1920 - 1964 Fisheries Department
                               1898 - 1936 Chief Protector of Aborigines
                               1908 - 1917 Public Charities and State Children Department
                               1926 - 1936 Aborigines Department
                                     1917 - 1927 State Children Department
                                     1936 - 1954 Commissioner for Native Affairs
                                     1936 - 1954 Department of Native Affairs
                                           1927 - 1972 Child Welfare Department
                                           1954 - 1972 Commissioner of Native Welfare
                                           1955 - 1972 Department of Native Welfare
                                                 1972 - 1985 Department for Community Welfare
                                                       1985 - 1992 Department for Community Services
                                                             1992 - 1995 Department for Community Development
                                                                   1995 - 2001 Department for Family and Children's Services
                                                                         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

Provided 'Care' At

Related Archival Series

Related Events

Related Legislation

Related Organisations

Publications

Journals

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics and WELSTAT (Australia) (eds), Persons under guardianship and children in substitute care, Australia, 1979-1982. Details

Online Resources

Photos

Department for Community Welfare, Logo
Title
Department for Community Welfare, Logo
Type
Image
Date
1976
Source
Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Department for Community Welfare, Western Australia , Annual Report 1976

Details

Adoption of Children Amendment Act 1976
Title
Adoption of Children Amendment Act 1976
Type
Document
Date
25 November 1976
Source
State Law Publisher of Western Australia

Details

Port Kennedy Beach Camp
Title
Port Kennedy Beach Camp
Type
Image
Date
1979
Source
Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Department for Community Welfare, Western Australia , Annual Report 1979, p.48
Note
‘Port Kennedy Beach Camp’ shows a scene from one of the regular school holiday camps run by the Department for Community Welfare for children and young people involved with the department.

Details

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.

Prepared by: Leanne Howard and Debra Rosser