St Joseph’s Native School and Orphanage, New Norcia, dates from 1861 when it established by the Benedictine Fathers. From 1904 until it closed in 1974, it was run by the Benedictine Missionary Sisters. Aboriginal girls and young women lived and went to school there. Tilbrook (1983) reports that sisters ‘Elizabeth and Helen (or Ellen) Tainan…
The Royal Commission to Investigate, Report and Advise upon Matters in Relation to the Condition and Treatment of Aborigines undertaken by Magistrate H.D. Moseley: ‘considered, among other matters, the administration of Indigenous affairs, native settlements, town camps, employment, disease and the trial procedures for Indigenous people…Like Roth, [Moseley] believed that a protection policy was in…
The Royal Commission to Enquire into and Report Upon [inter alia] the Administration of the Aborigines Department and the Condition of the Natives took place in Western Australia from 1904 to 1905. One of the issues investigated in this Inquiry was the type of labour undertaken by young Aboriginal people in institutions. Questions were asked…
This Inquiry set out to look at the treatment of Indigenous prisoners and the cost of putting them in prison. It also had to advise on missions and how to look after sick, aged or young Aboriginal people in Western Australia. The report of the Inquiry gave a view of Aboriginal people as unable to…
The Survey of Native Affairs was undertaken from 1947 to 1948 by Magistrate F.E.A. Bateman. WA historian Neville Green has written that the Survey was undertaken because it was thought that Aboriginal protection policy in Western Australia was ‘out of step with international agreements for Indigenous people’. Bateman’s report was presented in June 1948. WA…
The Commissioner of Native Welfare was an official role created by the Native Welfare Act 1954 (WA), replacing the Commissioner for Native Affairs. The Commissioner was the head of the Department of Native Welfare, and the legal guardian of every Aboriginal child in Western Australia to the age of 21 years, except those children made…
The Commissioner for Native Affairs was an official role created by the Native Administration Act 1936 (WA), replacing the Chief Protector of Aborigines. The 1936 Act also created the Department of the Native Affairs, of which the Commissioner was head, and extended the powers of that role. The Commissioner was the legal guardian of every…
The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (Inc.), better known as ALSWA, has been operating in WA for over thirty years. The ALS ‘provides legal representation and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia, including advocating in policy and law reform in submissions, at conferences and in the media.’
Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA) was established in 1995 as ‘an Australian charity dedicated to the health and wellbeing of adult survivors of all forms of child abuse and neglect.’ The organisation provided advocacy services, support, information and referrals to survivors of all forms of child abuse and neglect. It became the Blue Knot Foundation…
The Office of the Public Advocate in Western Australia (OPA) ‘works to promote and protect the human rights of more than 65,000 Western Australian adults with decision-making disabilities.’ As well as describing what they do, the OPA’s website ‘provides information to help families, friends, carers, health professionals, legal practitioners, primary care givers and accommodation service…
Dec 18, 2024
Nov 15, 2024
