Department for Child Protection (Western Australia)

The Department for Child Protection was part of the Government of Western Australia.

Department of Child Protection
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2007
Preceding agencies
Dissolved1 July 2017
Superseding agency
JurisdictionGovernment of Western Australia
Websitewww.dcp.wa.gov.au

It was created in response to a critical review of the Department of Community Development in January 2007.[1][2] At the time of its establishment, the government also mandated reporting of child sexual abuse.

In July 2017, the department was amalgamated with the Department of Housing, the Department of Local Government and Communities and the Disability Services Commission to form the Department of Communities.[3]

Responsibilities

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The Department administers Acts and Regulations which include the following:[4]

  • Adoption Act 1994
  • Adoption Regulations 1995
  • Children and Community Services Act 2004
  • Children and Community Services Regulations 2006
  • Parental Support and Responsibility Act 2008
  • Parental Support and Responsibility Regulations 2009
  • Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004
  • Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Regulations 2005.[5]

The Children and Community Services Act 2004, came into operation on 1 March 2006,[4] the Department came into existence on 1 July 2007[1]

The legislation that governs the Department's three service areas:

  • Supporting children and young people in the Chief Executive Officer's care.
  • Protecting children and young people from abuse.
  • Supporting individuals and families at risk or in crisis.

The Department also has the capacity for information sharing where it benefits child protection[6]

Former agencies

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(Other agencies might have had overlap in relation to Aboriginal children, but these are the main names[1][7]

  • 1908 – 1917 Public Charities and State Children's Department.[8]
  • 1917 – 1927 State Children's Department.[9]
  • 1927 – 1972 Child Welfare Department.[10]
  • 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

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "AU WA A1504 - Department for Child Protection". State Records Office of WA. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Media Statements - Statements - Government response to Ford Review to revolutionise". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. ^ "WA machinery of government changes: list of amalgamated departments". The Mandarin. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Department for Child Protection - Western Australia - Legislation". www.dcp.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Working with Children Check". www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008.
  6. ^ Western Australia. Dept. for Child Protection (2009), Working together for a better future for at risk children and families : a guide on information sharing for government and non-government agencies, Department for Child Protection, ISBN 978-0-9806964-0-0
  7. ^ "Department for Child Protection - Summary | Find & Connect".
  8. ^ "West Australia's Charities". Great Southern Herald. Vol. 6, no. 382. Western Australia. 8 June 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA". Northern Times. Vol. XV, no. 722. Western Australia. 29 November 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT". The Northam Advertiser. Vol. LVII, no. 5266. Western Australia. 1 May 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
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