Department for Child Protection (Western Australia) explained

Agency Name:	Department of Child Protection
Formed:	1 July 2007
Preceding2:	Department for Family and Children's Services
Dissolved:	1 July 2017
Superseding:	Department of Communities
Jurisdiction:	Government of Western Australia
Website:	www.dcp.wa.gov.au

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

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

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

Former agencies

(Other agencies might have had overlap in relation to Aboriginal children, but these are the main names^{[1] [6]}

• 1908 – 1917 Public Charities and State Children's Department.^[7]
• 1917 – 1927 State Children's Department.^[8]
• 1927 – 1972 Child Welfare Department.^[9]
• 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

• Aboriginal child protection#Australia
• Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry

External links

• http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx - the Departments main website

Notes and References

1. Web site: AU WA A1504 - Department for Child Protection. State Records Office of WA. 4 June 2018.
2. Web site: Media Statements - Statements - Government response to Ford Review to revolutionise . 14 April 2012 . 5 August 2012 . https://archive.today/20120805115958/http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=125741 . dead .
3. News: 28 April 2017 . WA machinery of government changes: list of amalgamated departments . . 6 March 2022 .
4. Web site: Department for Child Protection - Western Australia - Legislation . www.dcp.wa.gov.au . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110115194257/http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Organisation/Pages/Legislation.aspx . 2011-01-15.
5. Web site: Working with Children Check . www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080406114527/http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au/checkwwc . 2008-04-06.
6. Web site: Department for Child Protection - Summary | Find & Connect .
7. News: West Australia's Charities. . . 6 . 382 . Western Australia . 8 June 1907 . 7 March 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: WESTERN AUSTRALIA . . XV . 722 . Western Australia . 29 November 1919 . 7 March 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT . . LVII . 5266 . Western Australia . 1 May 1953 . 7 March 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.