| Katanning Group Home |
| Years of Operation | From 1978 for an unknown period. |
| Role Of Facility | Residential child care on a family model. |
| Sponsoring Agency | It is likely that the Katanning Group Home was, in fact, commenced as the Scatter Cottage of Marribank [see entry]. It is also possible that this facility received, from its inception, financial and other support from the Department. Indeed, it appears the facility was set up at the behest of the Department [see Marribank entry]. The Baptist Union [see entry] sponsored Marribank Mission. |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Baptist Union” in the earlier section of Signposts, “List of Facilities” |
| Address(es) | Katanning. If this facility was the Marribank Scatter Cottage, its location would have been in Oxley Road in 1986 (Department for Community Services TRIM Administration File MA0099 VO1, 1985). |
| Aliases | Possibly Marribank Group Home or Scatter Cottage. Oxley Road Cottage. |
| Brief History | 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.
“An achievement of the past year has been the development of three new Group Home facilities in country centres. These combined with other local resources have enabled staff to take more responsibility for ongoing case management and alleviated unnecessary referrals of cases to the metropolitan area. This has also facilitated a greater involvement of the community in dealing with local Departmental operations. Group foster homes have now been established in Bunbury, Collie, [see entries], Katanning and Albany [see entry], which cater for child care needs previously provided for by Metropolitan facilities.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, June 30th 1978).
The 1984 Annual Report noted that “Marribank [see entry] has also, in keeping with its emphasis of Family Support, changed the function of their Group Home located in Katanning, to short term emergency care. This Group Home can now provide care for children at a time when parents are temporarily unable to do so.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1984).
In 1985, Departmental administration files note that Marribank’s emergency cottage at Oxley Road could accommodate up to 6 children for short term emergency care.
The Baptist Union has its own entry in Signposts, and this should be consulted as it gives more information about the approach taken. |
| Records | Case records for young people placed by the Department may reside with the Department for Child Protection and Family Support.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’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) 6217 6888
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au |
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