The Child Welfare Division of the Social Services Department, and the Social Welfare Department that succeeded it, managed all aspects of child welfare work, including foster care and the government-run homes. In 1970, the Child Welfare Division had a Head Office in Hobart and three District Offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Following de-centralisation of…
The Child Welfare Advisory Council began meeting in 1965. It provided advice to the Minister about issues related to children who were state wards or supervised in other ways by the Social Welfare Department and its successors. The Council was abolished in about 1998. The Child Welfare Advisory Council was established under section 5 of…
The Residential Child Care Association of Tasmania was formed for the Managers of approved children’s homes. Section 10 of the 1960 Child Welfare Act provided for the approval of children’s Homes run by voluntary organisations.
The Social Policy Planning Unit, located within the Department of Social Welfare and its successors, was established in 1975. It conducted research into policy change and made recommendations to the Director of the Department. The Unit closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The Social Policy Planning Unit employed a Unit Supervisor, a clerical…
The New Town Infirmary replaced the New Town Charitable Institution in 1912. Its residents included children detained by the government for various reasons. In 1934, the New Town Infirmary became the New Town Rest Home. The main purpose of the New Town Infirmary was to house people who were aged and infirm. However, as the…
Kennerley Children’s Home, in Glenorchy, replaced Kennerley Boys’ Home in 1969. It was run by a volunteer board. The Home provided cottage accommodation to small groups of children and young people. In 2018, it is still operating. Kennerley Boys’ Home had been set up in 1869 by a Deed of Gift from Alfred Kennerley. The…
Garthfield Family Group Home, run by the government, opened in Claremont in about 1983. It provided temporary accommodation to children who were wards of state or supervised in other ways by the Social Welfare Department and its successors. The Home closed in about 1990. A married woman managed Garthfield Family Group Home with the assistance…
Summerhill Family Group Home, run by the government, opened in the 1980s. It was in West Hobart. The Home provided temporary accommodation to children who were wards of state or supervised in other ways by the Department of Community Welfare. Summerhill closed in about 1990. A married woman managed Summerhill Family Group Home with the…
The State Psychological Clinic, the first in Australia, was set up under the Mental Deficiency Act 1920 to diagnose and classify children with what is now known as intellectual disability, research it, and instruct teachers. The Clinic’s statutory existence ended in December 1964 following the passage of the Mental Health Act 1963 but since its…
The Guardianship Board, established by the Mental Health Act of 1963, replaced the Mental Deficiency Board in 1963. Its purpose was to assume the guardianship of people with an intellectual disability or mental illness. It also advised the Minister about the care, treatment and occupations of people suffering from an intellectual disability or psychiatric illness….
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
