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Northern Territory - Organisation
Welfare Branch, Northern Territory Administration (1955 - 1970)
Australian Government
- From
- 1955
- To
- 1970
- Categories
- Government Agency
- Location
-
The Welfare Branch replaced the Native Affairs Branch in 1953. This occurred as a result of the passing of the Welfare Ordinance 1953 which created the position of Director of Welfare. This legislation also gave the Director responsibility for and power over all children declared as 'wards'. This included both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Prior to the establishment of the Welfare Branch, the State Children's Council was responsible for the welfare of non-Aboriginal children. In 1970 the Northern Territory Administration was re-organised and the Welfare Branch was upgraded to become the Welfare Division.
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An office of the Welfare Branch was also located in Adelaide from 1963. This branch was responsible for children from the Northern Territory who were moved interstate into foster or instutional care. This office comprised two welfare officers who resported to the Head Office of the Welfare Branch in Darwin. This branch was sometimes referred to as the Welfare Section or Welfare Office.
Under the Welfare Ordinance which led to the creation of Welfare Branch, the Director of Welfare had specific duties towards all wards . In his role he was expected to take steps
'to promote their social, economic and political advancement for the purpose of assisting them and their descendants to take their place as members of the Community of the Commonwealth.'
When read in relation to Aboriginal people, this duty reflects the move 'from protection' towards 'assimilation'.
The Welfare Branch through the Director was also responsible for supervising and regulating 'the use and management of institutions'.
Timeline
- 1930 - 1959
- State Children's Council, Northern Territory, Australian Government
- 1939 - 1955
- Native Affairs Branch, Australian Government
- 1955 - 1970
- Welfare Branch, Northern Territory Administration
- 1970 - 1972
- Welfare Division, Northern Territory Administration, Australian Government
- Series Title
- Correspondence files relating to the alleviation of distress with "A" prefix, Northern Territory Welfare Branch and successors (1939 - 1966)
- Date Range
- 1939 - 1966
- Reference
-
3960
[Northern Territory Archives Service Series ID (NTRS)]
- Contact
-
Please contact the Northern Territory Archives Service:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 5669
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Correspondence files, Welfare Branch, Northern Territory Administration (1959 - 1978)
- Date Range
- 1959 - 1978
- Reference
-
3755
[Northern Territory Archives Service Series ID (NTRS)]
- Contact
-
Please contact the Northern Territory Archives Service:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 5669
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Children's Registers (1951 - 1999)
- Date Range
- 1951 - 1999
- Reference
-
3658
[Northern Territory Archives Service Series ID (NTRS)]
- Contact
-
Please contact the Northern Territory Archives Service:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 5669
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Correspondence files relating to children with "C" prefix, Northern Territory Welfare Branch and successors (1958 - 1982)
- Date Range
- 1958 - 1982
- Reference
-
3756
[Northern Territory Archives Service Series ID (NTRS)]
- Contact
-
Please contact the Northern Territory Archives Service:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 5669
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Correspondence files relating to State Children with "SC" prefix, Northern Territory Welfare Branch and successors (1958 - 1980)
- Date Range
- 1958 - 1980
- Reference
-
3757
[Northern Territory Archives Service Series ID (NTRS)]
- Contact
-
Please contact the Northern Territory Archives Service:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 5669
DETAILS
- Item Title
- Department of Aboriginal Affairs - Regional Office - Alice Springs - Monthly and Annual Reports - FWOs (1960 - 1961)
- Date Range
- 1960 - 1961
- Reference
-
E739, O75/1
[National Archives of Australia Reference Number]
- Contact
-
Please contact National Archives of Australia - Darwin Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 24, Nightcliff NT 0814
Phone: (08) 8924 7666
Email: archives@naa.gov.au
Website: https://www.naa.gov.au/visit-us/northern-territory
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Fostering files with 'F' prefix, Northern Territory Welfare Branch and successors (1950 - 1999)
- Date Range
- 1950 - 1999
- Reference
-
F940
[Government Record Series Number]
- Contact
-
Please contact the Northern Territory Archives Service:
Email: ask@lant.nt.gov.au
Darwin Office:
Postal Address: GPO Box 874, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8924 7677 or 1800 019 155
Alice Springs Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 8225, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8951 5669
DETAILS
- Series Title
- Life of Sister Eileen Heath (1994 - 1996)
- Date Range
- 1994 - 1996
- Reference
-
-
- Contact
-
Please contact the State Library of Western Australia:
Postal address: 25 Francis Street, Perth WA 6000
Phone: (08) 9427 3111
Email:info@slwa.wa.gov.au
Website: http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au
DETAILS
- Item Title
- Palmerston House - Receiving Home for Adolescent Girls, Darwin (1960 - 1976)
- Date Range
- 1960 - 1976
- Reference
-
F1, 1972/4158
[National Archives of Australia Reference Number]
- Contact
-
Please contact National Archives of Australia - Darwin Office:
Postal Address: PO Box 24, Nightcliff NT 0814
Phone: (08) 8924 7666
Email: archives@naa.gov.au
Website: https://www.naa.gov.au/visit-us/northern-territory
DETAILS
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