The object of this law was stated to 'provide for the reconstitution of the Aborigines Welfare Board; to constitute the Aborigines Welfare Board a body corporate, and to extend its powers, authorities, duties and functionsl for these and other purposes to amend the *Aborigines Protection Act, 1909-1940*; and for purposes connected therewith.

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1943 (NSW)

Laws and policies specifically forced Aboriginal children into apprenticeships and domestic servitude.

Apprenticeships and service under the Aborigines Protection Act

This subject examines the forced boarding-out and fostering of Aboriginal children once they were removed from their families. The process of boarding-out involved government agencies paying an allowance to foster parents for the care of children.

Forced boarding-out and fostering of children in state care 

This subject examines the treatment of children in the care of the NSW government between 1788 and 1969. It explores the law and policy that regulated the treatment of children and documents that discuss experiences of people who were in the care of the state during this period. State care...

Treatment of children in state care 

A system of public housing in NSW began in 1942. The Government built houses and subsidised housing for low income families. Many barriers prevented Aboriginal people from accessing public housing.

Barriers to Aboriginal people accessing public housing

The Aborigines Protection Act 1909 (NSW) was the first law in NSW that specifically authorised the removal of Aboriginal children from their families. It continued to exercise control over Aboriginal people and their children until 1969. Separate systems of child welfare existed for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children throughout this period.

'Protection' and assimilation era child removals

Although the law gave Aboriginal families the right to appeal child removal, research suggests there was limited use, if any, of this appeal right by Aboriginal families during this period.  

Families' rights following child removal historically

From the 1850s many Aboriginal people lived on reserves, often in homes they built themselves. From 1909 the reserves were owned by the Aborigines Protection Board, which built huts for housing. The Board sought to use housing as an assimilating tool. The poor condition of housing on reserves was recognised...

Housing on reserves

From 1909 to 1969, NSW laws allowed the Aborigines Protection Board to collect and keep the wages of Aboriginal people in trust accounts. This primarily impacted Aboriginal children who had been placed in apprenticeships. The system made it very difficult for people to access their wages. Labour practices such as...

Stolen wages system

From 1909 to 1969, the Aborigines Protection Board and later the Aborigines Welfare Board could remove certain Aboriginal children from their families under the Aborigines Protection Act. These children were placed in training homes and apprenticeships. Apprenticeships were used to separate Aboriginal children from their communities and assimilate them into...

Document

Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1943 (NSW)

Apprenticeships and service under the Aborigines Protection Act

Forced boarding-out and fostering of children in state care

Treatment of children in state care

Barriers to Aboriginal people accessing public housing

'Protection' and assimilation era child removals

Families' rights following child removal historically

Housing on reserves

Barriers to Aboriginal people accessing public housing

Stolen wages system

Child labour under the Aborigines Protection Act