| Brief History | An unreferenced Departmental file relating to Reserve No. 27321, which was provided by the Department for Child Protection for Signposts research project indicates that the site where Westview is located was originally acquired “by The Department of Native Welfare…for a hostel site to provide holiday opportunities for children from remote areas.” It was transferred to the Aboriginal Lands Trust in 1972 and a portion of the reserve was leased back to what is now the Department for Child Protection.
Group Homes were established by the Department “for children who need a more specialised type of family care than can be provided in a normal foster home or boarding placement. The children placed in these facilities are not necessarily problem children, but because of their circumstances they would find it difficult to settle into a private family. The Departmental group home can provide a skilled and stabilising environment as a stepping stone to future return home or foster placement” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1974). In addition, Group Homes could be 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.
“In Geraldton a contract group foster home has been established, providing a valuable asset for the field staff…It has enabled us to make short and medium term placements of dependant children in a wide variety of circumstances. The foster home has been established in a large building and this has enabled us to keep one wing available for community use. A wide spectrum of groups including the Potters Club, Brownies and Guides, Adult Education, Homemakers and the Geraldton Community Forum has taken advantage of this facility. The centre also makes an excellent venue for Children’s Panel hearings” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1977).
First called Geraldton Group Home, then the Westview Children's Group Home, though it is possible that the facility was also known as the Geraldton Community Centre, as the WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes the Geraldton Community Centre 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. Given the alternative uses to which Westview was put, it is likely that the notation refers to this facility.
“The Departmental Group Home has continued to be an invaluable asset for emergency placement of children and should prove even more so with the completion of new premises in 1981.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1981).
“Westview” was officially opened in March 1982 by the Minister for Community Welfare, and by June of that year was “already proving to be a valuable asset in providing for emergency and short term placement of children.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1982).
No resident children at time of reporting in 1984.
In June 1985, the facility was named “Westview Emergency Cottage”.
Emergency, short and medium-term facility for Wards and non-Wards placed by the Department. No resident children at time of reporting in 1984. In June 1985, the Geraldton Group Home became Westview Emergency Cottage. Between June 1985 and May 1986, there were 37 admissions, ranging from 1 day to 5 months’ residency. The average stay was 1 month. There were no readmissions during this period. The profile of children admitted was: 14 boys and 23 girls; 17 Aboriginal and 20 non-Aboriginal children; 0-5 years = 12 admissions; 6-11 years = 8 admissions; 12-16 years = 17 admissions.
In 1986, the Annual Report indicated that “a former Group Home” in Geraldton provided “a hostel service for adolescents experiencing family crises” – it is likely that this was Westview. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, June 30th 1986).
By 1995, it was reported that Westview was no longer an education and employment hostel and had “become more closely aligned with the care and protection programme area.” Westview was described at this time as operating as “a short to medium emergency care hostel”, providing “a placement for children who need a high degree of supervision as a consequence of behaviour or due to volatile family situations. It also offers an opportunity for medium term assessment and intervention programmes in conjunction with District staff.” The hostel building was described as “a large domestic dwelling with accommodation for live in carers, and accommodation for eight children.” Like most of the other country hostels, Westview was not well resourced, and “most equipment within the hostel was worn or broken and no replacement programme existed. This meant there were few resources for children either educationally or for play purposes.” There was “no capacity within the budget to replace or repair equipment.” There were 99 admissions during the 1993-94 year (ranging in age from 0-6 up to 18+ years, with 44 admissions involving non-Aboriginal young people), and the facility had a 15 seater bus. (OHAC Cost Project, Department for Community Services, June 1995). |