Currawong House history in brief
In 1976, the Children's Protection Society established Currawong House in Hamilton as a temporary emergency care facility for children in the Glenelg Region.
There was full-time capacity for up to six weeks for eight children and young people of both sexes, aged from a few months to 15 years, whose families were in a state of crisis. Children were referred by the department in the case of wards, otherwise by parents or guardians.
During the 1990s the Children's Protection Society operated from 70 Altona Street, West Heidelberg. In 1991, Currawong House Hamilton, Glenelg Foster Care, South Western Tenant Support Services and Warrnambool Community Legal Aid Service amalgamated and formed South Western Community Care Association Inc. In 1998, it changed its name to Community Connections (Victoria).
Client Records
Enquiries about the possibility of access to Currawong House records:
Children’s Protection Society records from 1896 to 1985, including client case files, have been lodged with the State Library of Victoria. DHHS also holds CPS records from 1970 to 1985.
To access records from:
- 1896 to 1969 – seek permission from CPS
- 1970–85 – seek permission from CPS and DHHS
- 1986 onwards – seek permission from CPS
Requests should be made in writing to:
Privacy Officer
Children’s Protection Society
273 Settlement Road Victoria 3074
Phone: 9450 0900
Email: privacy@cps.org.au
The following information must be provided to process the request: Full name at the time of being a CPS client, date of birth, mother/father/carer’s name, address at the time (if known), photocopy of current driver’s licence and any further information that can assist with the request. In some cases, the information will only be released with counselling support.
Warning about distressing information
This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience.Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & .
Source
Guide to out-of-home care services 1940–2000: volume one – agency descriptions, compiled by James Jenkinson Consulting, North Melbourne, November 2001.
List of records held by the department
For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.
Voluntary children's homes files (c.1930–c.1985)
File ; Permanent VPRS Number 18069 / P0001
Content: The files record interaction between the various voluntary homes and the government. This filing system was created in 1975 combining earlier correspondence and other records to create one system with VH prefixes.
The specific file(s) relating to Currawong House are dated from 1976–80 and include:
File VH11-78
- staffing schedule c.1976
- list of donors and amounts 1976
- application for declaration of Currawong House Emergency Care Centre as an approved children’s home 1976
- annual report 1977–78
- plans for proposed alterations and additions 1979.
The specific file(s) under the colloquial name to Hamilton Emergency Care date from 1976–79 and include:
File VH71-78
- Application for Declaration of Institution as an Approved Children’s Home on 13/10/1976
Staffing Priorities Committee, homes and hostels files (1976-83)
File ; Temporary
Content: This accession comprises files documenting the recommendations for staffing positions for homes and hostels, correspondence between the Minister of Community Welfare Services and senior officers as well as funding information. The Staffing Priorities Committee made recommendations to the minister regarding priority of staffing positions required. Individual homes and hostels are listed accompanied by comprehensive material concerning each home, family group home or hostel. There are also minutes from the approved children's homes and hostels meetings from 1978–80.
The specific file relating to Currawong House is dated 1978.
Staffing Priorities Committee, homes and hostels, correspondence, guidelines for operation and minutes of meetings (1976-80)
File ; Unappraised
Content:The material includes ministerial correspondence, and Staffing Priority Committee minutes and list of members. The Staffing Priorities Committee made recommendations to the minister regarding priority of staffing positions required.
Reviewed 10 August 2016