The Salvation Army Westcare history in brief
From 1980–82, after the Bayswater Boys Home closed, the Salvation Army starting work to establish residential units in the Western Region.
In 1981 the Carinya Youth Hostel was opened in Footscray.
In 1982, Cornwall Cottage Family Group Home opened, followed a few months later by Beech Court Adolescent Unit, both in Sunshine.
These were not family group homes in the traditional sense but residential units with rostered staff because of the special needs of the children and young people. There was a professional support unit and three residential units: Type A children and adolescents and Type B for either large sibling groups or special needs groups.
In the early 1980s, these services were incorporated as Western Region Family Service (later to become Crossroads Child and Adolescent Services).
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) and (VPRS Number 18069 / P0002)
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 files relating to this service are dated 1980–84 and include:
- the Salvation Army, Western Region and Youth and Child Care Services, Statement of Philosophy, Structure, Operational Guidelines, c.1982
- intake details from Carinya and Beech Court, 1980, 1982
- documentation of discussions and meetings between Salvation Army and the Department of Community Welfare Services regarding closure of Bayswater, shift to mixed sex residences, community based facilities, 1980
- staffing details, staffing needs, funding, establishment at various sites, 1980–1984
- proposals to develop residential campus units in western suburbs following closure of Bayswater, 1981
- opening of family group home at 152 Cornwall Road Sunshine, 1982
- successful applications for conversion funding, 1980, 1982.
The following locations are mentioned in the files:
- 27 Mulhall Drive, St Albans
- 106 Clarke Drive, Gladstone Park
- 152 Cornwall Road, Sunshine
- Beech Court, Sunshine
- Carinya Youth Hostel, Droop Street, Footscray
- Hayville in Box Hill
- Bayswater Boys Home
- Bayswater Child Care Centre
- Sunshine Childcare Services
- Jacana Children's Home.
Reviewed 23 August 2016