| Kewdale House |
| Years of Operation | It is likely that Kewdale House was acquired prior to 1972 but it may not have been operational until around 1976. Kewdale House remains open in 2010. |
| Role Of Facility | Residential child care for school children in a hostel setting. |
| Sponsoring Agency | Departmental - predessors to the current Department for Child Protection and Family Support. |
| Address(es) | 166-168 Fulham Street, Kewdale |
| Aliases | Kewdale Education and Employment Hostel; Kewdale Metro Student Hostel. |
| Brief History | Kewdale House was the purpose-built successor to the Kewdale Education and Employment Hostel, which was acquired for the Native Welfare Department. (OHAC Cost Project, Department for Community Services, June 1995).
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 WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes Kewdale Hostel 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.
“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. In the metropolitan areas numbers are limited to approximately ten to twelve secondary students per hostel, with no primary aged students. Care in aboriginal educational hostels is provided by couples who live-in fulltime. In the metropolitan area the married couple receive an honorarium and the hostel father maintains outside employment.” (Submission of the Department for Community Services to the Residential Planning Review Taskforce, March 31st 1987).
It was deemed necessary to continue to provide hostel services in Perth as there was “still a demand from country Aboriginal students at the senior secondary school level to find accommodation in Perth.” The emphasis in the Perth hostels was on “assisting students to reach their academic potential. They are helped to move on to tertiary courses and independent living situations. Six of these seven facilities are staff with Aboriginal house parents. Close contact with students’ parents enables them to be involved in decision making regarding choice of schools and hostels. A major issue is still that of student adjustment from country to urban school and living situations.” (Annual Report of the Department for Community Services, June 30th 1988).
In 1994, a Victa Lawnmower Mk.3 was purchased for the facility. (Annual Report of the Department for Community Development, 1994).
At 1 October 1994, there were 10 girls aged 15-18+ years resident at Kewdale House; total admissions during that year had numbered 13; and the length of stay ranged from 3 months to more than 6 months. (OHAC Cost Project, Department for Community Services, June 1995).
The facility forms part of the Aboriginal Student Accommodation Service program run by the Department. |
| Records | Departmental records for children placed by the Department may exist.
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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