State of Western Australia
The Western Australian State Children Department existed between 1 January 1917 and 22 December 1927. The State Children Department was an early preceding agency to the Department for Communities and the Department for Child Protection and Family Support which were established in 2007.
The State Records Office website provides an overview of the State Children Department:
Following a change of permanent head, the Public Charities and Children's Department became one department, the State Children's Department in 1917, to reflect the greater emphasis placed on protection of juveniles.
In 1927 the Child Welfare Act replaced the State Children Act and the departmental name was changed accordingly. The Department continued to be responsible for the Perth Children's Court.
Sydney Watson held the position of Secretary, State Children Department (Western Australia) from 1917-1927 before becoming the Secretary of the Child Welfare Department was established.
1874 - 1908 Superintendent of Poor Relief and Inspector of Charitable Institutions
1908 - 1917 Public Charities and State Children Department
1917 - 1927 State Children Department
1927 - 1972 Child Welfare Department
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
Sources used to compile this entry: 'AU WA A37 - State Children's Department', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/state-childrens-department-au-wa-a37.
Prepared by: Leanne Howard and Debra Rosser
Created: 6 June 2011, Last modified: 8 October 2014
Last updated: 17 October 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/wa/biogs/WE00368b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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