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Department of School Education, State Government of New South Wales

The Department of School Education ran Schools for Special Purposes. Its links with the child welfare system are via the referral of children for truancy, behavioural disorders and, increasingly, welfare matters. On 3 December 1997 the Department of School Education became the Department of Education and Training.

Denominational School Board

From 1848 education was placed under the control of two boards: the Board of National Education and the Denominational School Board. These two boards functioned concurrently until 1866 when the Public Schools Act replaced them with the Council of Education.

Council of Education

The Council of Education replaced the Board of National Education and the Denominational School Board on 1 January 1867 following the Public Schools Act, 1866. The Public Instruction Act, 1880, repealed the Public Schools Act and dissolved the Council of Education on 30 April 1880 to be replaced by the Department of Public Instruction.

Department of Justice and Public Instruction

The Department of Justice and Public Instruction oversaw industrial schools and reformatory schools, in addition to ordinary public schools. It was replaced by the Department of Public Instruction in 1881. During the early years of the settlement of the Colony of New South Wales, the Governors provided support to schools. By the 1820s the Churches…

Department of Education and Training, State Government of New South Wales

The Department of Education and Training is responsible for public primary, secondary and post-school technical education in New South Wales. In 2011 it became the Department of Education and Communities.

Board of National Education

From 1848 education was placed under the control of two boards: the Board of National Education and the Denominational School Board. These two boards functioned concurrently until 1866 when the Public Schools Act replaced them with the Council of Education.

South Sydney Women’s Hospital

South Sydney Women’s Hospital was a maternity hospital that provided midwifery and maternity care, particularly to poor and unmarried women. It was founded in Newtown (Camperdown) 1905 by George and Louisa Ardill and the Sydney Rescue Work Society and had been the Home of Hope for Friendless and Fallen Women. It trained midwives and was…

St Margaret’s Home for Unwed Mothers

St Margaret’s Hospital was established in Strawberry Hills [Surry Hills] in 1894 as a lying-in home, by a religious community led by Gertrude Abbott. It grew and became a maternity hospital, lying in home and provided midwifery nursing training. In 1910, St Margaret’s moved to Darlinghurst. From 1937 was run by the Sisters of St…

Queen Victoria Hospital for Women and Babies

The Queen Victoria Hospital for Women and Babies in Annandale was founded by George Lewis in 1895 and run by Matron Attenborough from 1896 until 1924. It catered to both married and single mothers. Many children of single mothers were adopted from the Hospital. In 1930 it temporarily moved to Herbert Street, Dulwich Hill before…

Mater Misericordiae Hospital

The Mater Misericordiae Hospital for Women and Children was a maternity hospital established at Crows Nest by the Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney Congregation, in 1906. In 1910 the Mater moved to North Sydney. It cared for mothers who were unmarried, and destitute before and after the birth of their babies. Babies for adoption were…