The State Children’s Council was formed in 1886 under the requirements of the Destitute Persons Amendment Act, 1886. This Act separated the care of children from the care of other destitute persons by transferring responsibility for children from the Destitute Board to the State Children’s Council. The Council comprised twelve honorary members who oversaw, and took responsibility for, all matters relating to ‘State Children’. The State Children’s Council was replaced by the Children’s Welfare and Public Relief Board in 1926 with the passing of the Maintenance Act of that year.
From 1916 until the 1970s, the State Children’s Council oversaw the Women’s Police Unit, part of the South Australian Police Department. The focus of women police was the welfare and safety young women and children.