VPRS 16747 Client Case Files, Youth Welfare Division (Social Welfare Branch 1961 - 1971; Social Welfare Department 1971 - 1978)

Full description

This series was created by the Youth Welfare Division (YWD) of, initially, the Social Welfare Branch between 1961-1971, and then, the Social Welfare Department between 1971 - 1978. The Social Welfare Branch and the Social Welfare Department, both operated within the Chief Secretary's Department. The formation of the Branch represented a linking of the administration of the Children's Welfare Department (VA 1467) and the Penal and Goals Branch (VA 1464) both of which also existed within the Chief Secretary's Department.

Broadly speaking, this series documents children aged up to 15 years of age who were brought into the care of the Division (i.e made wards) under either protective or juvenile justice orders made by the courts.

Children subject to protective orders were either placed in the community either with foster parents or in private, usually religiously run, institutions. These files document the placement of the child into care and the Division's administration of the children's placements.

Children subject to protective orders were usually placed in youth training centres and remand centres for young children. These files document the children's placement into the care of the Division, their classification as young offenders, placement in the various centres, treatment and rehabilitation and after care including accommodation in hostels and employment services.

Children under the age of 15 receiving court orders were the responsibility of the Family Welfare Division (FWD). Files for the children managed by this Division were created within VPRS 10071 until 1978.

A young person could be placed into the care of the YWD under the following circumstances:
- On receiving a protective court order issued by the Children's court where the young person was of 15 years of age,
- Children transferred from the FWD on turning 15,
- Young persons (17 to 21 years) received detention order to Youth Training Centre (YTC) from an Adult Court and Children's Court detention order if under 17 years of age,
- Children or young persons who received a prison sentence and were directed to serve their early sentence in an YTC.

In 1978, the Family and Adolescent Services Division superseded the FWD and the YWD, absorbing their functions, reuniting child and youth administration within the one Division. Refer to VPRS 16749, Client Files, Family and Adolescent Services Division, Single Number System.