The Department of Charitable Institutions was a New South Wales government agency that was established in 1888. It took over the responsibilities of the Inspector of Public Charities. It administered state hospitals and asylums for the infirm. It had overall responsibility for the State Children’s Relief Branch and the Government Asylums Branch. It oversaw the Children’s Protection Act until 1901, when that responsibility was passed to the State Children’s Relief Department. In 1905 the State Children’s Relief Department was transferred to the Department of Public Instruction. In 1911 this Department became the Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities Department.