| Goldfields Group Home, Boulder |
| Years of Operation | 1981 - 1986 in first location at Piesse Street (the service was subsequently known as the Kalgoorlie Group Home [see entry]). |
| Role Of Facility | Short and medium term emergency and residential care in a cottage environment with Group Home Parents. Also provided an alternative to hospitalisation for children who could attend on an out-patient basis. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection |
| Address(es) | 127 Piesse Street, Boulder |
| Aliases | Boulder Group Home |
| Brief History | 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 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.
An unreferenced Departmental file relating to Reserve No. 34865, which was provided by the Department for Community Development for Signposts research project indicates that Lot 195 Piesse Street, Boulder was acquired “as a ‘Grant-in-Aid to Kurrawang Mission by purchase of Freehold property for a ‘Scatter Cottage’ on 6.7.1977 and converted into a reserve 7.10.1977 and Department assumed control on 24.10.1980.”
“The Division this year in re-evaluating its resources has converted a cottage in Boulder, previously loaned to a voluntary organisation, into a short-term group home for young children. From this facility officers can now work with families on a preventive basis with the goal of restoring a child to the family, rather than the child coming into Departmental Care; or children may be placed while their parent or care-giver is hospitalised or otherwise unable to care for the child, for a period. Since January 1981 some 60 children have passed through the Boulder Group Home, none have become wards of the State, and all have been returned to their families or care-givers. The Department has been most fortunate in gaining the services of bilingual Cottage Parents able to converse in the Wongi dialects. This of course has proven an immeasurable advantage with children from the Central Reserves who speak little or no English. The Group Home also offers an alternative to hospital admission for a child who otherwise could be treated as an out-patient. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1981).
By 1982, it was reported that this new Group Home had already proved its worth and had “added considerably to the effectiveness and flexibility of the Department in relation to the care of children” in the Southern Country region.” “During its period of operation a little over 18 months, it has provided care for over one hundred children. Nearly all children were returned to either their natural or extended families, mostly within 3 months of their admission to the Group Home. No child was committed to the care of the Department following admission to the Group Home.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1982).
In 1984, it was reported that the “Goldfields Group Home in Boulder continues to cater for children under 13 years in need of short term emergency accommodation. The majority of children admitted are under five years of age and stay for less than a fortnight. Plans are underway to replace the existing Group Home with a purpose built facility.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1984).
In the 1985/86 year, $118,606 was expended on the construction of the new Group Home. As there was no capital expenditure recorded in the Annual Report for 1987, it can be assumed that the Group Home was probably operational by that time. |
| Records | Case records for young people placed by the Department may reside with the Department of Communities.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | 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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