Department for Community Welfare (GA140)

The Department for Community Welfare was created by a proclamation of the Govenor in the Government Gazette dated 29/6/1972 which brought the new department into being on the 1/7/1972.

The Department's objectives were to promote the general well being of the community, to encourage the welfare of the family, to promote the co-ordination of services and collaboration amongst agencies and to promote reserach, training and education in community welfare. Part of the Act provided for the establishment of Community Welfare Centres which would make available the Department's services.

Following its creation the Department was structured as follows: Metropolitan Services Division; Country Services Division; Aboriginal Resouces Division and Administrative and Finance Division. In addition there were four Specialist Resource Branches - Assessment and Clinical Services; Staff Development and Training; Research and Community Development.

The Department administered the following residential care institutions - The Pines; McNally Training Centre, Magill; Brookway Park; Vaughan House; Windana; Glandore; Seaforth Home; Lochiel Park; 8 Cottage Homes and 2 Family Homes; Allambi House; Davenport House; Stuart House; Kumanka House; Aboriginal Women's Home; Magill Home and Wami Kata.

In addition the Department administered the following Aboriginal Reserves and missions; Coober Pedy Reserve; Davenport Reserve; Indulkana Reserve; Koonibba Reserve; North-West Reserve; Point Pearce Reserve; Point McLeay Reserve; Gerard Reserve; Yatala Mission; Ernabella Mission and Nepabunna Mission.

In 1973 the Commonwealth assumed responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs. Under the terms of the Aboriginal Affairs (Arrangements with the States) Act, 1973 each State could transfer its powers, functions and staff to the new Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs. On the 1/12/1973 Aboriginal Resources Divison became the South Australian Regional Office of the Australian Department of Aboriginal Affairs. By the end of the 1976/77 financial year there were only two Aboriginal Reserves left under the Departments control, these were the North-West Aboriginal Reserve and Parachilna Reserve, the remainder had been transferred to the Aboriginal Lands Trust. By the end of the following year the only reserve that remained was the North-West Aboriginal Reserve.

The Community Development Branch of the Department was transferred to the Department of Community Development on 25/1/1979.

A Non-Government Welfare Unit was established in November 1985 with responsibility for the administration of various programs including:
- Supported Accommodation Assistance Program
- Community Welfare Grants
- Family Support Program
- Aged Services Program
- Small Grants for Seniors.(1)

The Department was replaced by the Department for Family and Community Services on the 4/6/1990.

(1) Department of Community Welfare Annual Report 1985-86