Department for Community Welfare (1972 - 1985)

Department for Community Welfare, Logo, 1976, courtesy of Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Department for Community Welfare, Western Australia , Annual Report 1976.
Details

State of Western Australia

From: 1972
To: 1985
Categories: Adoption Agency, Care Provider and Government Department

The Department for Community Welfare was established in 1972, and was the key government organisation responsible for child welfare in Western Australia. It took over the Child Welfare Department and the responslbilities to Aboriginal children held by the Department of Native Welfare and Commissioner of Native Welfare. The Department for Community Welfare was replaced by the Department of Community Services in 1985.

Under the Child Welfare Act Amendment Act (No. 2) 1972 the functions of the Child Welfare Department were transferred to the Department of Community Welfare.

In the same year, the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act of 1972 repealed the Native Welfare Act 1963 and the remaining functions of the Department of Native Welfare, including the responsibilites to Aboriginal children held by the Commissioner of Native Welfare, were transferred to the Department of Community Welfare from 1 July 1972.

The functions of the Department for Community Welfare, as defined by the Community Welfare Act 1972 included: promoting individual and family welfare in the community; to conduct, promote and encourage programmes of training or rehabilitation; and, to provide assistance when the welfare of any individual, family or group is threatened or in jeopardy.

The Department for Community Welfare was abolished and its name changed to the Department for Community Services on 1 January 1985.

Timeline

1887 - 1890 Aborigines Protection Board
       1890 - 1898 Aborigines Protection Board
             1898 - 1908 Aborigines Department
                   1909 - 1920 Department of Aborigines and Fisheries
                   1909 - 1920 Department of Aborigines and Fisheries
                         1874 - 1908 Superintendent of Poor Relief and Inspector of Charitable Institutions
                         1920 - 1926 Department of the North West
                         1920 - 1964 Fisheries Department
                               1898 - 1936 Chief Protector of Aborigines
                               1908 - 1917 Public Charities and State Children Department
                               1926 - 1936 Aborigines Department
                                     1917 - 1927 State Children Department
                                     1936 - 1954 Commissioner for Native Affairs
                                     1936 - 1954 Department of Native Affairs
                                           1927 - 1972 Child Welfare Department
                                           1954 - 1972 Commissioner of Native Welfare
                                           1955 - 1972 Department of Native Welfare
                                                 1972 - 1985 Department for Community Welfare
                                                       1985 - 1992 Department for Community Services
                                                             1992 - 1995 Department for Community Development
                                                                   1995 - 2001 Department for Family and Children's Services
                                                                         2001 - 2007 Department for Community Development
                                                                               2007 - 2013 Department for Communities
                                                                               2007 - 2013 Department for Child Protection
                                                                                     2013 - 2017 Department of Local Government and Communities
                                                                                     2013 - 2017 Department for Child Protection and Family Support
                                                                                           2017 - Department of Communities
                                                                                           2017 - Department of Communities
                                                                                           2017 - Child Protection and Family Support
                                                                                           2017 - Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

Provided 'Care' At

Albany Group Home (1978? - )
Andrew House (1983 - 1984)
Date: 1983 - 1984
Bamburra Hostel (1970 - )
Bedford Hostel (1971 - 2009)
Date: 1972? - 1985
Bennett House (1952 - 1981)
Date: 1972 - 1981
Bridgetown Group Home (1976 - 1980)
Bridgewater Care and Assessment Centre (1969 - 1983)
Date: 1972 - 1983
Bulungurr Hostel (1973 - 1985?)
Canowindra (1974? - 2013?)
Date: 1974? - 1985
Cawley House (1983 - 1984)
Date: 1983 - 1984
Charles Perkins Hostel (1962 - 2000?)
Date: 1972 - 1985
Chesterfield House, Rockingham Youth External Accommodation Project (1983 - )
The Department for Community Welfare established and ran Chesterfield House, Rockingham Youth External Accommodation Project, in partnership with the local community

Date: 1983 - 1985
Darlington Cottage (1974 - 1977)
Darlington Cottage (1977 - 1983)
Darlot Street Hostel, Meekatharra (1981? - 1987?)
Derby Group Home (1979 - 1984?)
Derby Hostel (1956 - 1994)
Date: 1976 - 1985
Doubleview Group Home (1983 - 1990s)
Fitzroy Crossing Group Homes (1976 - 1987?)
Fitzroy Crossing Hostel (1956? - 1976)
Date: 1972 - 1976
Fourteen (1968 - 1979)
Geraldton Boys' Employment Hostel (1973? - 1979)
Geraldton Group Home (1977 - 1981)
Gilliamia Hostel (1971? - 1990)
Date: 1972 - 1985
Goldfields Group Home (1980? - 1987?)
Gwynne Lea (1970 - 1997?)
Hamilton Hill Hostel (1971 - 1994?)
Hillston, Stoneville (1969 - 1984)
Date: 1972 - 1984
Kalgoorlie Child Welfare Cottage (1930s - c. 1978)
Kalgoorlie Hostel (1976 - 1993?)
Karingal (Nyandi Annexe) (1976 - 1989?)
Kartanup (1970 - 1984)
Date: 1972 - 1984
Katukutu Employment Hostel (1958 - 1982?)
The Department for Community Welfare ran Katukutu Employment Hostel from 1974 to at least 1982 and possibly longer.

Date: 1974 - 1982?
Kewdale House (1976? - 2011?)
Koolingar-Mia Group Home, Collie (1978 - 1992)
Department for Community Welfare, State of Western Australia managed Koolingar-Mia Group Home, Collie jointly with the Collie Welfare Council.

Date: 1983 - 1985
Koorana (1974 - 1987)
Kyarra Hostel (1961 - 1984)
Date: 1972 - 1984
Kyewong Hostel (1967? - 2002?)
Date: 1975? - 1985
Laverton Hostel (1984 - 1994)
Longmore Hostel (1982 - 1985)
Date: 1982 - 1985
Longmore Remand and Assessment Centre (1965 - 1993?)
Date: 1972 - 1985
Longmore Training Centre (1983 - 1993)
Date: 1983 - 1985
McCall Centre (1971 - 2005?)
McDonald House (1952 - 1985?)
Medina Education and Employment Hostel (1971? - 1983)
Date: 1972 - 1983
Medina Hostel (1983 - 1990?)
Meekatharra Hostel (1983? - 2005?)
Date: 1983? - 1985
Millen Street Hostel (1970? - 1995?)
Date: 1974? - 1985
Moorgunyah Hostel (1967 - 1996?)
Mt Lawley Reception Home (1973 - 1980)
Myera House (1973 - 2005?)
Nabberu Hostel (1971? - 1988)
Date: 1972 - 1985
Ngangganawili Group Home (1981 - 1982?)
Nindeebai Education Hostel (1971? - 1984)
Northam Group Home (1980 - 2005?)
Nyandi (1970 - 1997)
Oceanview (1970 - 1995?)
Oolanyah Hostel (1970? - 1993?)
Port Hedland Group Home (1977 - 1983?)
Riverbank (1960 - 1996)
South Hedland Group Home (1979 - 2000?)
St Joseph's Hostel (1959 - 1986)
Date: 1972 - 1986
Stuart House (1963 - 1988?)
Tudor Lodge (1952 - 2003)
Victoria Park (Riverbank) Annexe (1980 - 1984?)
Walcott Centre (1980 - 1984)
Date: 1980 - 1984
Warminda (1984 - 1993?)
Warralea (1973 - 1986)
Warramboo Hostel, Yalgoo (1971? - 1980?)
Warramia Group Home (1972 - 2004?)
Watson Lodge (1967 - 1984)
Weeriana Hostel (1964 - ?)
Westview (1981 - )
Wollaston (1973 - 1995?)
The chief executive officer of the Department for Community Welfare, was the guardian of any children at Wollaston who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1984

Related Archival Collections

Related Archival Items

Related Archival Series

Client Files, Child Protection and Family Support [and its predecessors] (1921 - )
Family Information Research System (1921 - )
Files - Community Welfare ("A" Series), State Records Office of Western Australia (1908 - 1990)
Files created by the Department for Community Welfare are held in this series at the State Records Office of WA.
Files (Aboriginal matters) - Chief Secretary's Department (1916 - 1927)
The records in this archival series were transferred to the Department for Community Welfare in 1972.

Related Concepts

Related Events

Child Abuse Review Panel (1984 - 1985)
The Department was represented on the Child Abuse Review Panel.

Related Legislation

Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (1972 - )
The Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 abolished the role of Commissioner of Native Welfare and his Department of Native Welfare, and the remaining resopnsbilities to Aboriginal children were taken over by the Department for Community Welfare.
Adoption of Children Amendment Act 1976 (1976 - 1995)
Child Welfare Act 1947 (1948 - 2006)
Community Welfare Act 1972 (1972 - 2006)
The Department for Community Welfare was created by the Community Welfare Act 1972.

Related Organisations

Adoption Services, Child Protection and Family Support (1994? - )
Applecross Cottage (1970 - 1986?)
Applecross Cottage was run by a Church agencies under agreement with the Department for Community Welfare, State of Western Australia.

Date: 1972 - 1985
Bamburra Hostel (1970 - )
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of any children at Bamburra Hostel who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1972 - 1984
Beagle Bay Mission (1895 - 1976)
Carnarvon Mission (1945 - 1975?)
Catherine House, Broome (1975 - 1991?)
The Department for Community Welfare provided financial support for Catherine House.
Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care [and Interim Committee] (1977 - 1993)
The Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care reviewed and evaluated residential child care facilities that were subsidised by the Department for Community Welfare.

Date: 1977 - 1985
Fairhaven Hostel (1965 - 1987)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of any children at Fairhaven Hostel who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1972 - 1985
Gilead Boys' Home (1973? - 1980?)
The Department for Community Welfare placed children at Gilead Boys' Home.
Gnowangerup Agricultural College (1966 - 2005)
The Department for Community Welfare placed teenagers at the Gnowangerup Agricultural College (or School).
Kurrawang Cottage, Boulder (1977 - 1988)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of any children at Kurrawang Cottage, Boulder who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.
La Grange Mission (1955 - 1984)
Lombadina (1909 - 1975)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare, was the legal guardian of any children at Lombadina who were deemed 'native wards' or 'wards of the state'.

Date: 1972 - 1975
Millijiddie Station (1981)
The Department for Community Welfare placed Aboriginal teenage boys at Millijiddie Station.
Mount Margaret Mission (1921 - 1975)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare, was the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children at Mount Margaret Mission.
Ngal-a Mothercraft Home and Training Centre Inc (1956 - 1989)
The Department for Community Welfare placed young children under the age of six years at Ngal-a Mothercraft Home and Training Centre Inc (Ngala) and, until 1980 when Ngala ceased its involvement in adoption, may also have placed young expectant mothers there.
Norseman Mission (1935 - 1985)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of children at Norseman Mission who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.
Pallottine Mission, Tardun (1948 - 2004)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare, State of Western Australia was the guardian of any children at Pallottine Mission, Tardun who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1972 - 1984
Pukulari Cottage (1974 - 1984)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare, was guardian of any children at Pukulari Cottage who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'
Roelands Village (1975 - 1984)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of any children at Roelands Village who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1975 - 1984
Sister Kate's Children's Cottage Home (1934 - 1980)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of children at Sister Kate's Children's Cottage Home who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1972 - 1976
Strelley Station (1981? - 1983?)
Department for Community Welfare placed male and female Aboriginal teenagers at Strelley Station.
Wandering Mission (1944 - 1979)
The Chief Executive Officer for the Department for Community Welfare, was the guardian of any children at Wandering Mission who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.
Warburton Mission (1933 - 1977)
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department for Community Welfare was the guardian of children at Warburton Mission who were deemed to be 'native wards' or 'wards of the State'.

Date: 1972 - 1977
Wollaston (1973 - 1995?)
Yandeyarra Station (1978? - 1983?)
The Department for Community Welfare placed male and female Aboriginal teenagers at Yandeyarra Station.

Date: 1978? - 1983?

Publications

Journals

Australian Bureau of Statistics and WELSTAT (Australia) (eds), Persons under guardianship and children in substitute care, Australia, 1979-1982. Details

Online Resources

'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 47', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 21 June 1972, https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1972_047.pdf/$FILE/Gg1972_047.pdf?OpenElement. Details
'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 48', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 23 June 1972, https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1972_048.pdf/$FILE/Gg1972_048.pdf?OpenElement. Details
'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 1', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 3 January 1973, https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1973_001.pdf/$FILE/Gg1973_001.pdf?OpenElement. Details
'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 35', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 10 June 1977, https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1977_035.pdf/$FILE/Gg1977_035.pdf?OpenElement. Details
'Western Australian Government Gazette No. 71', in Western Australian Government Gazette Online Archive, State Law Publisher of Western Australia, 18 November 1977, https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1977_071.pdf/$FILE/Gg1977_071.pdf?OpenElement. Details
'Community Welfare Child Life Protection Unit [Hansard p592]', in Hansard Archive 1870 to 1995, Parliament of Western Australia, 19 August 1980, https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard/hansard1870to1995.nsf/83cc4ce93b5d4e0b48257b33001cfef6/23151F40E5F3BF5948257A460013483D/$File/19800819_Assembly.pdf. Department for Community Welfare: The Child Life Protection Unit was a unit set up by the Department to investigate child abuse in the metropolitan area and support country area investigations. Details
'Submission No. 73 Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices', in Submissions received by the Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, 2012, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/commcontribformerforcedadoption/submissions. Details
'Submission No. 48 Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices', in Submissions received by the Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, 2012, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/commcontribformerforcedadoption/submissions. Details
'Aboriginal History', in State Records Office of Western Australia website, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2012, https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/state-records-office-of-western-australia/aboriginal-history. Details
'AU WA A39 - Department for Community Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-for-community-welfare-au-wa-a39. Details
Department for Community Development, State of Western Australia, 'Submission No. 55 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care: Submissions', in Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care - Submissions received by the committee as at 17/3/05, Senate Community Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Australia, July 2003, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sublist. Details
Western Australia. Department for Community Welfare, Annual Report: Department for Community Welfare, Dept. For Community Welfare, [Perth], 1973-1984, http://catalogue.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b1410539~S7. Details

Photos

Title: Department for Community Welfare, Logo
Type: Image
Date: 1976
Source: Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Department for Community Welfare, Western Australia , Annual Report 1976

Details

Title: Adoption of Children Amendment Act 1976
Type: Document
Date: 25 November 1976
Source: State Law Publisher of Western Australia

Details

Title: Port Kennedy Beach Camp
Type: Image
Date: 1979
Source: Department for Child Protection and Family Support, Department for Community Welfare, Western Australia , Annual Report 1979, p.48
Note: ‘Port Kennedy Beach Camp’ shows a scene from one of the regular school holiday camps run by the Department for Community Welfare for children and young people involved with the department.

Details

Sources used to compile this entry: 'AU WA A39 - Department for Community Welfare', in State Records Office of Western Australia - Organisations & People, State Records Office of Western Australia, 2015, https://archive.sro.wa.gov.au/index.php/department-for-community-welfare-au-wa-a39.

Prepared by: Leanne Howard and Debra Rosser

Created: 6 June 2011, Last modified: 19 May 2017

Department for Community Welfare (1972 - 1985)