Neglected and Criminal Children's Act 1864

Established and regulated industrial and reformatory schools for 'neglected' children. Police may apprehend a child suspected of being neglected who must be brought immediately before two or more Justices. Justices may order child to be put out to service on conditions or detained in an industrial school for between one and seven years. Parents liable to contribute to support of inmates of schools. Amended by Neglected and Criminal Children's Amendment Act 1874 - children under 6 years may be detained in an industrial school; 'immoral or depraved' child may be sent to a reformatory school; neglected children may be detained up to the age of 16 years; child may be boarded out or apprenticed. Neglected and Criminal Children's Amendment Act 1878 - neglected children may be transferred from industrial to reformatory schools; a child may be detained until the age of 18 years. Repealed by Juvenile Offenders Act 1887.

Neglected Children's Act 1887

Maintained general provisions of 1864 Act regarding apprehension and committal of neglected children. Introduced system of guardianship for children committed to care on ground of neglect. Repealed by Neglected Children's Act 1890.

Neglected Children's Act 1890

Consolidation of 1887 Act.

Infant Life Protection Act 1890

Established a system of regulation of non-parental carers of young children. Repealed by Infant Life Protection Act 1915.

Children's Court Act 1906

Created a separate court system to deal with children under the age of 17 years charged with neglect. Repealed by Neglected Children's Act 1915.

Neglected Children's Act 1915

Consolidation of 1890 Act. Repealed by Child Welfare Act 1928.

Infant Life Protection Act 1915

Consolidation of 1890 Act. Repealed by Child Welfare Act 1928.

Children's Maintenance Act 1919

Prior to this Act mothers in this position would have to arrange for a court to declare their children to be 'neglected' and committed to the care of the Department. The Department would then 'board them back' with their mothers who would receive the boarding out allowance from the Department. Repealed by Children's Welfare Act 1928.

Children's Welfare Act 1928

Consolidation. Repealed by Children's Welfare Act 1954.

Adoption of Children Act 1928

Provided for legal adoption of children in Victoria for the first time. Repealed by Adoption of Children Act 1958.

Children's Welfare Amendment Act 1933

Definition of neglected altered to include a child living under conditions that means he/she is likely to lapse into a career of vice or crime; the child's guardian is unfit by reason of his conduct or habits, or (if female) is soliciting or behaving in an indecent manner; a child wandering about the streets at night without lawful cause after a member of the police force has warned the child to cease; or a child engaged in street trading'. Repealed by Children's Welfare Act 1954.

Children's Welfare Act 1954

Introduced a system of regulation for non-government children's institutions. Children's Court to determines whether a child or young person is in need of care. Police can arrest without warrant any child or young person suspected of being in need of care and bring the child before a Children's Court to be committed to the care of the department. Director can make a range of placements including institutions, private homes, employment or service etc. Non-government children's institutions must be registered with the department and are known as 'approved children's homes'. An agency may apply for a child in its custody to be admitted to State guardianship once agreed maintenance contributions fall into 6 months arrears. Repealed by Children's Welfare Act 1958.

After Aborigines Act 1957, the Board had no specific power in relation to Aboriginal children. Aboriginal children were removed under the Child Welfare Act 1954 and subsequent child welfare legislation.

Social Welfare Act 1960

The 'welfare of the child shall be the first and paramount consideration' in placing a child. Repealed by Social Welfare Act 1970.

Adoption of Children Act 1964

Replaced 1928 Act. Established a stricter procedure for selecting adoptive parents. Amended by Adoption of Children (Information) Act 1980 - Relates to access to records of public and private adoption agencies. Repealed by Adoption Act 1984.

Social Welfare Act 1970  [also known as Community Welfare Services Act 1970 and Community Services Act 1970].

Consolidation of Children's Welfare Act 1958, Social Welfare Act 1960 and amendments. Amended by Community Welfare Services (Amendment) Act 1979 - minor changes to definition of 'child in need of care' includes emotional abuse and being ill-treated, exposed or neglected. Not repealed but substantially amended by Children and Young Persons Act 1989.

Adoption Act 1984

Introduced Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. Placement of an Aboriginal child must be in accordance with the Principle. Consent to adoption may only be dispensed with in special cases such as where child has been seriously and persistently ill-treated.

Children (Guardianship & Custody) Act 1984

Concerns duties of guardians and disputes between them. Gives effect to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). Court shall not make a guardianship or custody order with respect to an Aboriginal child unless a report has been received from an Aboriginal Agency. Repealed by Children and Young Persons Act 1989.

Children and Young Persons Act 1989

Includes Aboriginal Child Placement Principle. Sets out procedures for removing a child 'in need of protection'.

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