Department for Child Protection (Department of Communities)

Address: 5 Newman Court, Fremantle WA 6160

Mailing: Locked Bag 5000
Fremantle WA 6959

Telephone: 1800 176 888
Email: enquiries@communities.wa.gov.au

The Department for Child Protection holds information on file regarding Aboriginal families in Western Australia in the past. These files were kept by the former Native Welfare Department and other departments responsible for Aboriginal people. Information about Aboriginal people's personal and family lives and about major happenings was recorded. The Department also holds information about Aboriginal people who have had dealings with other departments such as the Child Welfare, Community Welfare and Community Services Departments. Please note that all Native Welfare records are now held within AIATSIS's Native Title Precedents Database.

The Department of Communities Adoptive Services can help in finding out about a past adoption in Western Australia. There are also agencies which will assist you to research adoptions, such as the Department's Adoption Support Service and AdoptionWA's Adoption Research and Counselling Service.

Also check ROADS: an index of locations and access to adoption records, a publication which provides details of records helpful to those tracing adoptions. Signposts: a guide for children and young people in care in Western Australia from 1920, and Find & Connect. are sites that provide details of organisations and institutions which may hold relevant records.