| Djooraminda |
| Years of Operation | From 1977 (as Centrecare Children’s Cottages) and remains in operation in 2010 |
| Role Of Facility | Cottage-based care of Indigenous children “who may be members of a sibling group or children with some form of behavioural difficulty” by Indigenous house parents (Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care (CCRCC), 1982).
In 2004, Djooraminda's website described its services as “Providing residential care and supportive services for aboriginal children who are not able to live within their own family environment due to either abuse, neglect or other difficulties.”
Djooraminda’s website describes its current (2010) services as providing "care and accommodation for children who are assessed by the Department for Communities as being in need of alternative care arrangements for a variety of reasons. Currently, there are twenty-two children accommodated at Djooraminda, and all are sibling groups. The ages of the children are between 2 to 12 years old, although Djooraminda is funded to accept children aged 6 to 15 years old." |
| Sponsoring Agency | In 1982, Departmental administrative files show the Administrative Body for Centrecare Children’s Homes as the St Francis Xavier Community [see entry for Wandering (St Francis Xavier) Mission].
In 2003 the sponsoring agency for Djooraminda was Centrecare Inc. |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entries “Centrecare” and “Djooraminda” in the earlier section of Signposts, “List of Facilities” |
| Aliases | Wandering Mission [see entry]. |
| Brief History | “Centrecare was developed in 1977 to replace the child care operations of the Wandering Mission.” (CCRCC, 1982). The first administrator of Centrecare Children’s Cottages was the present Archbishop of Perth, the Most Reverend BJ (Barry) Hickey.
By 1979, Centrecare had developed 2 cottage homes in Beverley [see entry], one in Brookton [see entry] and one in Northam [see entry]. By 1983, a new cottage had been added in Northam.
In 1987 the CCRCC mapped the developments in residential services at the type of programs that were provided for children in the care of the agency:
1. Major Developments in the Residential Models of Care
- Professional staff development
- Information sessions for staff
2. Range of Programs Provided
- Camping and Artists in Residence program
- Tutoring program
- After-school program
- Alternative school program (in conjunction with the Community Based Offenders Program and the Department of Community Services in Northam).
(Report on the Activities of the Consultative Committee in 1986/87, Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care November 1987).
The “long-awaited” metropolitan cottage opened in June 1990, but the after-school and alternative school programs closed due to funding cuts in that same year. (Report on the Activities of the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care in 1989/90, February 1991).
Departmental files report that Centrecare’s residential programs in 1991 included 4 cottages.
Departmental files report that Centrecare operated 5 residential units in 1992.
In 1994, Djooraminda’s Child Care Programme was funded to provide “up to 30 culturally appropriate out of home care case placements in metropolitan and country areas for Aboriginal children and families.”
Purpose:
“The provision of out of home care for Aboriginal children and support services for their families”.
Key Service Objectives:
“To provide a range of culturally appropriate out of home and alternative care services including respite and medium term care for up to 30 children in 5 cottages.
To work towards reunifying children in placement with their family / extended family.
To identify and assess alternative carers for children unable to return to their families.”
1994 Out of Home Care funded services included:
• Group care for 0-13 year olds with cottage parents – 3 cottages in Northam, one at Viveash and another at Glendalough
• 0-12 years crisis care (family care worker model)
Other services included:
• Support services for families
(Out of Home, Preventative and Alternative Care Services Review, “Terms of Reference”, Family and Children’s Services, 1995).
Djooraminda came under the direct administration of Centrecare in 2002.
In its service agreement with the Department in 2003 Djooraminda was described as providing 30 cottage care placements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 6-15 years requiring long term care. Care was provided in a family type setting with full time carers. Djooraminda also provided a reunification service for six families. (Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development).
The three year Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development for Aboriginal Tertiary Family Preservation Service commenced on 2 August 2004. Djooraminda provides supports to 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families referred by the Department in the metropolitan area who are at imminent risk of the children entering care or placement due to a high risk of harm. Priority of access to the service was families with children under five years of age.
The three year Service Agreement with the Department for Community Development which commenced on 1 January 2006 enables Djooraminda to provide 30 cottage care placements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the CEO's care aged six to 15 years and requiring long term care. Younger children may be accepted where they are part of a sibling group.
Care is provided in a family type setting with the full time carers. Children and young people in the same cottage may be from more than one family. There is a maximum of six children per cottage. Djooraminda also provides a reunification service for six families. The Department and Djooraminda jointly agree which families are offered a reunification service and the goal of reunification is determined by a care plan. In some cases reunification services could commence prior to the child entering care.
A more detailed chronology of major events, admissions and discharges is included in Table 11. |
| Records | Some case records and admission registers for Djooraminda and possibly its earlier agencies exist.
Departmental case records for young people placed by the Child Welfare Department or its successor agencies may reside with the Department of Communities. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | The Director, Djooraminda
36 Arbon Way, Lockridge WA 6054
PO Box 94, Beechboro WA 6935
Telephone: (08) 9378 2522 Facsimile: (08) 9378 1113
Email: enquiries@centrecare.com.au
Web: www.centrecare.com.au
Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au |
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