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Kalgoorlie (Graeme Street) Hostel, Kalgoorlie
Years of OperationFrom 1976 and remains open in 2010.
Role Of FacilityHostel for young women of working age. In 1982, it was reported that girls at the hostel were either attending school or looking for, or in, employment.
Sponsoring AgencyDepartmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection
Address(es)(Kalgoorlie is situated approximately 600 kilometres south east of Perth.)
AliasesKalgoorlie Education and Employment Hostel; Working Girls’ Hostel; Graeme Street Hostel
Brief HistoryThe Graeme Street Hostel was purpose-built by the Department for Community Welfare in 1976.
“The Department has three hostels in Kalgoorlie for high school children [Nindeebai – see entry], working girls [Graeme Street] and working boys[Boulder (Millen Street) – see entry]. During the past year the lack of employment opportunities for young people in this town has been noticed because of the difficulty in finding employment for the youths staying in the hostels.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1976). Facility operated under a formal agreement with the Department of Community Welfare, providing for girls in employment.

In 1977, the hostel had four residents at the end of the reporting year, but also provided “temporary accommodation for an increasing number of young people passing through Kalgoorlie en route to Perth or the Eastern States” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1977).

“The close liaison between the field [officers from the Kalgoorlie Departmental office] and the three Hostels in Kalgoorlie has resulted in a professional use of facilities with advantages to all parties. A number of children have benefited from the liaison between the Hostels, field staff and the Project School. Those children unable to meet the normal academic standards are given the opportunity to learn and experience manual trade skills.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1979).

In 1979, the hostel catered for up to 14 girls in employment who came from Mt Margaret Mission; and the Esperance, Laverton, Leonora and Norseman areas. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1979).

“Goldfields Hostels have moved forward to provide fuller programmes for students and working aged young persons who come from fragmented families in fringe dwelling communities. The emphasis is on the provision of as many options as possible for young people to become part of the wider community.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1981).

“The Department continues to utilize the Working Boys Hostel and Working Girls Hostel in Kalgoorlie for accommodating teenage youth. Those accommodated range from offenders on After-Care programmes or remand to non-offenders experiencing family breakdown.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1984).

In 1986, the population often included “adolescents experiencing family crises.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, 1986).

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).

“Aboriginal students from remote country areas may have the opportunity to obtain primary or secondary education at metropolitan or regional schools. This enables them to obtain a level of education not otherwise available. Some of these students board out at aboriginal educational hostels. They live as close to their own communities as practical, and return to their community at the end of term. Care in aboriginal educational hostels is provided by couples who live-in fulltime. Country facilities have live-in wages staff.” (Submission of the Department for Community Services to the Residential Planning Review Taskforce, March 31st 1987).

By 1995, it was reported that the Graeme Street Hostel was no longer an education and employment hostel and had “become more closely aligned with the care and protection programme area. These hostels provide short to medium term accommodation primarily for children for whom fostering is not an immediate option. In the Goldfields area, hostels have also been used to address the special needs of petrol sniffers and offenders on remand with specific welfare needs.” 60% of placements were for bail-related accommodation at this time. On review, it was found that the Graeme St Hostel was a brick building with a living/dining kitchen area towards the front of the building, with a rear courtyard with bedrooms running off a quadrangle. This structure was not deemed to be suited to “the age range of children placed and presenting issues”, which were described as being due to behavioural issues with the children themselves, or as a consequence of “volatile” family situations. During the 1993/94 year, there were 71 admissions (ranging from 0-6 to 18+ years, 31 of which involved non-Aboriginal young people) and the facility had a 15 seater bus. (OHAC Cost Project, Department for Community Services, June 1995).

Currently (2010) operates as the Graeme Street Hostel.
RecordsDepartmental records for children placed by the Department of Community Welfare or the Department of Native Welfare may exist. Of particular interest, if able to be located, are the Department of Native Welfare “Resident Details Information Sheet (1) Hostel and Private Board Placement ” and “Resident Details Information Sheet (2) Hostel and Private Board Placement”.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information.
AccessWhile access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire.
Contact DetailsFreedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6217 6888
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
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