Commissioner of Native Welfare

• Chief Protector of Aborigines (1898 - 1936)
• Commissioner for Native Affairs (1936 - 1954)
• Commissioner of Native Welfare (1954 – 1972)
  • Department for Community Welfare, State of Western Australia (1972 - 1985)
  • Department for Community Services, State of Western Australia (1 January 1985 - 1 October 1992)
  • Department for Community Development, State of Western Australia (1 October 1992 - 1 July 1995)
  • Department for Family and Children's Services, State of Western Australia (1 July 1995 - 1 July 2001)
  • Department for Community Development, State of Western Australia (1 July 2001 - 30 June 2007)

Related Organisations

• Bamburra Hostel (1970 - current)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children at Bamburra Hostel.
  Date: 1970 - 1972
• Beagle Bay Mission (1895 - 1976)
  Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Beagle Bay Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Mount Margaret Mission (1921 - 1975)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Mount Margaret Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Mowanjum (1956 - 1972)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Mowanjum until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Norseman Mission (1935 - 1985)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Norseman Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Pallottine Mission, Tardun (1948 - 2004)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Pallottine Mission, Tardun until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1968?
• Rangevue Hostel (1969 - 1973?)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children in Rangevue Hostel.
• St Mary's Mission, New Norcia (1848 - 1974)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at St Mary's Mission, New Norcia until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
• Wandering Mission (1944 - 1979)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was was the guardian of all 'native' children at Wandering Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Warburton Mission (1933 - 1977)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Warburton Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Department of Native Welfare, State of Western Australia (1955 - 1972)
  The Commissioner was the head of the Department of Native Welfare.
• Child Welfare Department, State of Western Australia (22 December 1927 - 15 June 1972)
  The Child Welfare Department shared responsibility for the 'care and control' of Aboriginal children who were Wards with the Commissioner of Native Welfare.
• La Grange Mission (1955 - 1984)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at La Grange Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Sister Kate's Children's Cottage Home (1934 - 1980)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of Aboriginal children at Sister Kate's Children's Cottage Home until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
• Sunday Island Mission (1937 - 1964)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Sunday Island Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
• Wotjulum (1951 - 1956)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Wotjulum.
  Date: 1954 - 1956
• Carnarvon Mission (1945 - 1975?)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Carnarvon Mission until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of those Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Halls Creek Mission (1943? - 1960)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Halls Creek Mission.
• Cosmo Newbery Mission (1953 - 1973?)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the guardian of Aboriginal children placed at Cosmo Newbery Mission.
  Date: 1955 - 1963
• Derby Hostel (1956 - 1994)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the guardian of all 'native' children at Derby Hostel, United Aborigines Mission until 1963. After 1963, the Department of Native Welfare could make regulations for the 'control, care and education of the children of natives'.
• Fairhaven Hostel (1965 - 1987)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare could make regulations for young people at Fairhaven Hostel under its powers for the 'control, care and education of the children of natives'.
  Date: 1965 - 1972
• Forrest River Mission (1913 - 1968)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Forrest River Mission until 1963 when could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Kurrawang Mission (1952 - 1984)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the guardian of all 'native' children at Kurrawang Mission until 1963. After 1963, the Department of Native Welfare could make regulations for the 'control, care and education of the children of natives'.
  Date: 1954 - 1972
• Lombadina (1909 - 1975)
  The Commissioner of Native Welfare was the legal guardian of children at Lombadina until 1963 when he could regulate the 'care' of Aboriginal children.
  Date: 1954 - 1972

Related Legislation

• Aborigines Act 1905, Western Australia (1906 - 1964)
  The Commissioner continued the legal authority granted by the Aborigines Act 1905 until the Act was repealed in 1963.
  Date: 1954 - 1963
• Native Welfare Act 1954, Western Australia (1955 - 1964)
  The Native Welfare Act 1954 changed the title of the role of Commissioner of Native Affairs to that of Commissioner of Native Welfare.
• Native Welfare Act Amendment Act 1960, Western Australia (1960 - 1963)
  The Native Welfare Act Amendment Act 1960 exempted the Commissioner of Native Welfare from personal liability in carrying out duties under the Act.
  Date: 1960 - 1972
• Native Welfare Act 1963, Western Australia (1963 - 1972)
  The Native Welfare Act 1963 changed the powers of the Commissioner of Native Welfare; he ceased to be the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children, and became responsible for their 'care'.

Related Concepts

• Aboriginal Protection in Western Australia (c. 1832 - c. 1972)
• Assimilation Policy (1950s - 1960s)

This page was written by Debra Rosser, last updated 21 April 2016. Sources used to create this entry:

• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), To Remove and Protect, 2014 View Publication Details

• Middleton, S, Nullarbor Natives Gain New Life, The West Australian, 28 February 1953. View Publication Details
• National Library of Australia, Papers of Frank Gare, circa 1937-2004, 2012. View Publication Details
• Western Australia. Department of Native Welfare, Annual Report: Department of Native Welfare, 1955 - 1972. View Publication Details
• van den Berg, Rosemary, Aboriginal protectors, Historical Encyclopedia of Western Australia, 2009. View Publication Details
• AU WA A48 - Department of Native Welfare, State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, 2015. View Publication Details
• Family Notices - Gare, Sunday Times, 15 December 1918. View Publication Details
• He heralded a new era for Aborigines, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 2004. View Publication Details
• Interview with Frank Ellis Gare, last Commissioner for Native Welfare [interviewed by Darren Foster], 1998. View Publication Details