| Katanning (Kartanup) Employment Hostel, Katanning |
| Years of Operation | From 1976 until 21 August 1984 (while it may have been operated thereafter, its role would have been as a school hostel only, not a residential child/youth care facility). |
| Role Of Facility | Residential child care for young people of working age from rural or metropolitan centres. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection and Family Support |
| Address(es) | Originally in Andrews Street and subsequently at Lot 889 Amherst Street, Katanning.
(Katanning is situated approximately 300 kilometres south east of Perth.) |
| Aliases | Kartanup Hostel, St Rita’s Hostel |
| Brief History | An unreferenced Departmental file relating to Reserve No. 33996, which was provided for Signposts research project indicates the following history of the Katanning hostel:
“In 1970 a property in Andrews Street to accommodate working youths from Albany/Mt Barder was purchased. It became uneconomic to repair that property and Lot 889 with its facilities (St. Rita’s Convent) was purchased on 25.9.1972 as freehold and later converted into a Reserve. It was used to accommodate youths with the need diminishing with closure on 21.8.1984 with the proposal that it be leased to the Katanning High School Hostel in 1985.”
Education and employment hostels were operated by or in association with the Native Welfare Department mostly from the mid to late 1960s and early 1970s but came under the administration of the Community Welfare Department from 1972. For notes on a general history of these facilities, see the section on Hostels at the beginning of Signposts.
The 1976 Annual Report noted the advent of a hostel in Katanning – and, though described as a ‘working boys’ hostel’, it was actually intended for boys and girls of employment age. “A new country hostel was opened in Katanning in February this year. It is called St Rita’s Hostel, the building formerly being a convent by that name. It can accommodate fourteen working boys and girls and it will meet a need in the southern part of the State”. Departmental documents, however, indicate the placement of boys only: “A major facility in the form of a Working Boys Hostel has been completed. At present the facility also has potential to care for working boys and girls not yet ready for community placement. It is intended that the Hostel will develop programmes and community links which will ensure that the children accommodated at the Hostel have a smooth transition from the Hostel into community placements” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1976).
1978 saw the appointment of a Peer Group Leader to work with local children living at home and children from Kartanup.
“This facility continues to cater for 14 metropolitan and country working aged boys who require a supervised environment. The hostel provides an invaluable group living experience. City boys have been able to develop socially in the smaller country centre by participating in local organised sport and other outdoor activities. The experience matures them to the point where they can move on to private board or return home and make a more positive contribution to their own families. Country boys have also gained in confidence and acquired improved work habits.” 26 boys were admitted during the year, 15 coming directly from Perth, and the average number in residence at any one time was 12 boys. “To overcome the problems of unemployment the hostel runs its own programme for those boys not in work. This includes gardening, home maintenance, woodworking activities, vehicle maintenance and community projects. The boys run their own well patronised canteen.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1978).
In 1979, the hostel catered for 10 working boys from the Esperance, Perth, Albany and Gnowangerup areas. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1979).
The Annual Report of 1982 reported that the appointment of an Aboriginal District Officer in Katanning had proved a valuable assistance to the hostel. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1982).
The program at Kartanup in 1983 was “designed not only on supervision but in particular to instruct young lads in good work habits, financial management and self responsibility. Lads placed at Kartanup are encouraged to maintain family contacts and in due course return home, on completing the Kartanup Programme. Kartanup as a ‘open’ hostel, is an increasingly important alternative to the Department’s Institutional Services.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1983).
In 1984, it was reported that there was an “urgent need in Katanning to provide activities and greater support to the family.” One aspect of support required, was the ability to deal effectively with the high levels of juvenile offences and youth issues generally. To this end, the Department was in the process of “reviewing the function of ‘Kartenup’, Katanning’s Working Boys Hostel. This year has seen a marked decline in admissions of offending working age boys to Kartenup with offenders being of a younger age group. Consideration will be given to possible alternate use of Kartenup and/or the creation of youth clubs and/or sporting activities.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Welfare, 1984). |
| Records | Departmental records for children or young people placed by the Department or the Children’s Court may exist.
Additionally, the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’s Aboriginal Index and the guide, “Looking West”, should be consulted for information.
In relation to non-Indigenous placements, Departmental case records for young people may reside with the Department for Child Protection and Family Support. |
| 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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