| Brief History | “Three Group Homes managed by Aboriginal house parents under a representative Aboriginal committee, have been established to replace the dormitory-style hostel [see entry, Fitzroy Crossing Hostel]. The Group Homes which cater for up to eight children each, endeavour to duplicate normal family living which is much more desirable than dormitories. The Aboriginal committee controls the management of the Group Homes and determines in which Group Home a child should be placed depending on tribal kinship. A Clinical Psychologist is co-ordinating the programme for the first six months to ensure a smooth transition” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1976).
“The homes are staffed by Aboriginal group parents who meet weekly with District staff to discuss food ordering, management and intake procedures (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1977). Group Homes could developed relatively inexpensively, so they were able to be located within country towns close to the child’s home of origin, which was seen to be particularly advantageous. “The involvement and access to parents by these placements is often a major step in the rehabilitation of a family group.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1979). For notes on a general history of these facilities, see the section on Group Homes at the beginning of Signposts.
“The development of individual communities, e.g. Go-Go, Christmas Creek, Noonkanbah and provision of attached educational facilities has resulted in a decrease in number of children remaining in Fitzroy Crossing for schooling. Thus the Group Homes which were developed in 1976 by this Department have, as was anticipated, been phased out and only one now remains. This is developing into a more flexible substitute care facility.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1979).
The WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes the Fitzroy Crossing Group Home as a ‘scattered group home’ (ie. “a family group home whose grounds do not adjoin those of another family group home, or other residential child care establishment, operated by the same enterprise.”) operated by the Department.
By 1980, the role of these facilities was becoming more open to community and family involvement: “The function of the Department hostel in caring for aboriginal children so that they may have regular schooling, is expanding to provide a back-up service for families who may wish to use the facility to provide an occasional meal, a laundry service and provide homework supervision. This is the need that some families have in making the transition into homes of their own in the local township. Greater efforts are also being made to provide children and parents with opportunities to spend more time together by providing camping facilities when the parents come to town.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1980).
“At Fitzroy Crossing a former Group Home is to be renovated and upgraded to provide more accommodation in the township for children who wish to remain in the district for their secondary education.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1980).
In the 1981 Annual Report, it was noted that the Department “reverted the Group Home to an Hostel for school children in mid 1980. It caters mainly for primary and secondary school children from the smaller cattle stations in the area.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1981).
In 1982 it was noted that the Hostel provided “a valuable service to outlying communities by accommodating school children who would otherwise have been unable to attend the local school.” Administered by the Department’s Kimberley Division. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1982).
In 1983, the Department reported that they took a “community development” approach to the organisation and management of the hostels and group homes in the Kimberley. “Parents are consulted about their children going to hostels away from home and the advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The parents are becoming more reluctant to send their children away and appropriate education in the community is now becoming an important issue in Fitzroy Crossing, Christmas Creek and One Arm Point. The group homes are only used when there are no relatives able or capable of looking after the children of a mother who may have to go to hospital or Perth. Once again, the responsibility is placed on the community and extended family to deal with their problems.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1983).
By 1984, the hostel in Fitzroy Crossing was reported as accommodating “the children of the Muludja Community who although their community is only 40 kilometres from town are not provided with a bus service. This results in the children having to live at the hostel through the week and return home on weekends.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1984).
During 1987, the “practices of accepting only senior students, and staffing hostels with Aboriginal staff were introduced” and “eight of the twelve country hostels [were] now managed by Aboriginal personnel.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, June 30th 1987).
“Burawa”, as the Fitzroy Crossing facility was known, is now part of the Junjuwa Community. |