The Way Commission was an inquiry into the affairs of the Destitute Board which ran from 1883 to 1885. Officially known as the Royal Commission to Report on the Destitute Act 1881, it was commonly referred to as the Way Commission after Chief Justice Samuel Way who led the Inquiry. The Inquiry was sparked by claims made in 1883 that the religious faith of Roman Catholic children in State care was not being respected. As a result of these complaints, the workings of the Destitute Board and its role in caring for children were investigated. The final report of the Commission, a 100,000 word document, was tabled in October 1885. It recommended a number of significant changes over a wide range of areas covered by the Destitute Act. These recommendations influenced the development of future policies concerning children in the care of the State.
Two of the recommendations included the move from large congregate institutions to cottage style care and the segregation and classification of ‘reformatory’ children.
From
1883
To
1885
Alternative Names
Royal Commission to Report on the Destitute Act 1881