The Social Welfare Department was established under the provisions of the Social Welfare Act 1970 (No.8089). The Department came into being in 1971, assuming responsibility for all functions previously administered by the Social Welfare Branch. In 1978, it became the Department of Community Welfare Services. The Social Welfare Department’s charter was to develop and coordinate…
The Children’s Welfare Department was established in 1924 to replace the Department for Neglected Children. The renaming of the Department signified the Government’s awareness of the stigma which had become attached to the term ‘neglected child’, and did not reflect a change in functional responsibility or status. In 1928 the Department became responsible for the…
In 1887 following the proclamation of the Neglected Children’s Act (No.941) and the Juvenile Offenders’ Act (No.951) responsibility for ‘neglected’ children was assumed by a Department for Neglected Children while the Department for Reformatory Schools assumed responsibility for convicted juveniles.
The main responsibility of the Department for Neglected Children upon its establishment was the maintenance and management of ‘neglected’ children including: supervision of State wards in receiving houses and probationary schools, provision of trade apprenticeships programs, ‘boarding out’ of children in the service of persons willing to take charge of their maintenance and education, provision…
In 1995 the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS) became responsible for dealing with children placed in the care of the state. This child welfare ‘function’ has been the responsibility of many different government agencies in Victoria since 1864. Most records of the predecessor agencies of DHS remained in the custody of DHS. Other records…
The Department of Industrial and Reformatory Schools came into being with the passage of the Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act 1864. Children who were deemed to be ‘neglected’ were to be sent to industrial schools. Children convicted of any offence could be sent to a reformatory school but justices had the authority to take their…
The ACT Health Directorate provides a range of health services. It was established in 2001. The Directorate sets health policy and plans the delivery of health services aiming to meet community needs. It also funds a range of non-Government organisations to provide vital healthcare services for the ACT and surrounding region. In 2014, the Directorate…
ParentLink is a community education program that provides parenting information to parents in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and wider region. The ParentLink program was established in 2000, and is based in the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support. It aims to provide easily accessible and up-to-date information about parenting issues and family support…
ArchivesACT provides access to records of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government. ArchivesACT was established in 2008, and is located in the suburb of Woden, next to the ACT Heritage Library. The ArchivesACT’s collection includes health medical records, records of births, deaths and marriages, citizenship and naturalisation papers, and coroner’s records. In order to assist…
The Office for Children, Youth and Family Support was established in 2004. It is an administrative unit of the Community Services Directorate (formerly the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services). The Office works to provide care, support and protection services to children, young people and families in the Australian Capital Territory. In addition, the…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
