The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1892 (55 Vict. No.24) sought to ‘make better provision for the protection of women and girls’ by identifying a number of offences against morality, including defilement of all girls under 12 (s.4). Carnal knowledge of girls aged 12-14 years, ‘idiot’ and ‘imbecile’ women and girls was outlawed (s.6). It was…
The Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 (070/1996) acknowledges that not all people who come before the courts are ‘mentally fit’ to stand trial (s.9). The Act applies to all Western Australian courts where criminal proceedings are heard, including the Children’s Court. The Act established the Mentally Accused Review Board. The Act makes provision…
The Ombudsman Western Australia is responsible for reviewing ‘investigable’ child deaths and recommending actions to prevent future deaths. A child death is investigable if it is within two years of the wellbeing of the child (or a child relative of the child) coming to the attention of child welfare authorities, or if the child is…
A Child Death Review Committee was established in 2003 by the Western Australian government to ‘provide quality assurance mechanisms of particular departmental cases where a child has died’. The Committee was to seek to understand why children in the care of child welfare authorities had died, determine whether departmental procedures had an impact on events…
The Child Welfare Act Amendment Act 1965 amended the Child Welfare Act 1947. The amendments had two key impacts on out of home care. Children were committed to the ‘care of the Department’ (s.32) or the ‘custody of the Director’ (s.4) rather than directed to placement by the Children’s Court in consultation with the Child…
The Supporting Mother’s Benefit was a Commonwealth allowance introduced in 1973 by the Whitlam government. It extended equal access to income support to all single mothers. In November 1977, it was replaced by the Supporting Parent’s Benefit, with sole fathers becoming eligible for payments. This payment made it possible for many single mothers to keep…
The Widows’ Pension was a Commonwealth allowance introduced to enable widows with dependent children to stay at home and look after them, rather than having to go out to work to keep the family from destitution. From October 1942 until 1976, the Widows’ Pension was exempt from income tax. Single mothers, de facto wives and…
St John of God Subiaco may have records of your hospitalisation. Although the hospital started in 1898, the record collection is not complete. However, there are maternity records from 1963, some admission and discharge registers and also some medical records. Records may include: Maternity records from 1963 Searchable adoptions and foster discharge index Admission and…
St John of God Health Care was established in 1989. It runs the St John of God hospitals and health services in Australia.
The St John of God Hospital (SJOGH) was opened by the Sisters of St John of God in the Perth suburb of Subiaco on 19 April 1898. It has been one of the largest hospitals in Western Australia. Many children in Catholic out of home care were treated at SJOGH Subiaco. Babies were born, fostered…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
