State Ward of New South Wales

Between 1950 to 2010, under particular child welfare legislation in the State of New South Wales, children could be classed as state wards on various grounds, especially if they were deemed by the state government as being uncontrollable, neglected by one’s parents/family or in moral danger. In other words, children were often declared uncontrollable, neglected, and in moral danger and made wards of the state, not because they had done anything wrong, but because the circumstances in which they found themselves resulted in them being labelled ‘status offenders’ leading them to be institutionalised. The term 'status offender' is a term used to describe a person who has committed a status offence and not a criminal offence. These offences are so designated because of the offender's status as a juvenile and often status offenses include truancy, running away from home, violating curfew, underage use of alcohol, and general ungovernability.

In New South Wales, children were often made wards of the state through a process entailing a court appearance (often the Children's Court or magistrate's court) where an order would be made for wardship, usually until a child turned 18 years of age. Whether a child was taken into care because of a juvenile offence, or as a state ward or via some form of private placement due to the reasons above, in most cases that child would more than than likely go through a State reception centre from where they were 'processed' and subsequently sent to a children's home. In New South Wales, this included the following centres and homes (amongst many others):

• Reiby Training School (1973 - 1991); Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre (1991 - present);

• St Patrick's Orphanage (1919 - 1983);

• Home of the Good Shepherd (1913 - 1975);

• Charlton Boys' Home, Ashfield (1966 - 1970s);

• Bexley Boys' Home (1915 - 1979);

• St Catherine's Orphanage (1931 - 1990);

• Church of England Children's Homes, Burwood (1927 - 1993);

• Dalmar (1900 - present);

• Boys' Town, Engadine (1939 - 2010); Dunlea Centre (2010 - present);

• St Vincent's Boys' Home (1891 - 1985);

• Mount Penang Training School for Boys (1946 - 1987); Mount Penang Detention Centre (1988 - 1991); Mt Penang Juvenile Justice Centre (1991 - 1999);

• Minali Receiving and Assessment Centre (1975 - 1998);

• Minda Juvenile Justice Centre (1991 - 2003);

• St Anne's Orphanage (1888 - 1977);

• Parramatta Girls Training Home (1912 - 1946); Parramatta Girls Training School (1946 - 1974);

• St Vincent's Boys' Home (1891 - 1985);

• Dalwood Children's Home (1924 - 1989);

• Adelaide Walker Home (1951 - 1980);

• Institution for Boys, Tamworth (1948 - 1976); Endeavour House (1976 - 1990); and

• Daruk (1960 - 1985).

A lot of these institutions unfortunately became houses of horror, as many state wards during their placement were subjected to sexual, emotional and physical abuse. This resulted in significant psychological and physical harm to the child leading often to many former state wards unable to live normal and functional adult lives.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse whilst they were state wards and whilst they were placed in an institution by the State of New South Wales.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.