Child evacuees were removed from their homes in Britain during World War Two in order to escape the air raids. As well as sending children to safer rural locations in Britain, around 3000 children were sent to Commonwealth countries. These evacuations were administered by the Children’s Overseas Reception Board. 577 British children came to Australia under the Overseas Children Scheme during World War Two.
In September 1940, the National Security (Overseas Children) Regulations 1940 (No. 202) were gazetted by the Commonwealth Government. These vested the guardianship of these children in various state authorities (generally the Child Welfare Department or equivelent, in each state).
In addition to the Overseas Children’s Scheme, around 10,000 other children were sent overseas privately by their parents.
The children who arrived in Australia as war evacuees received more assistance than the child migrants who came after the war. For example, child evacuees were placed with private families rather than in institutions, and were aided to keep in touch with their families in Britain.
A number of Dutch women and children were evacuated to Australia from internment camps in Java (Indonesia) in 1946. Some of the children spent time living at Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra in Western Australia.